Afghanistan lock in all-format series against Sri Lanka and Ireland
The Afghanistan Cricket board have announced an away tour to Sri Lanka on top of a series against Ireland in UAE, taking on both teams across all three formats.
Afghanistan's men travel to Sri Lanka before a one-off Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground beginning on 2 February, with a three-match ODI series and a three-match T20I series starting on 9 February and 17 February respectively.
The team stay in Colombo for the ODI series with all matches played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, before moving onto Dambulla for the T20Is.
Match Highlights of the emphatic win pulled off by Afghanistan against Sri Lanka in a contest they dominated with both bat and ball at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
The Blue Tigers then move to UAE and play host to Ireland from February 28 to March 18, also playing a sole Test match and three matches in the white ball formats. The teams meet at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi for the Test match first, before moving to Sharjah for both white ball series. The ODIs will be played out on 7, 9 and 12 March, with the T20Is beginning on 15 March.
Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan believes the two series, as well as the upcoming away trip to India bolsters the team for the future, which includes preparation for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June.
“The year 2024 is a very busy and full of high-voltage competitions for the Afghanistan national team", Naseeb began.
"The upcoming tours of India, Sri Lanka, and then the home series against Ireland will help us to prepare the team for the much-important T20 World Cup. (We're) eagerly looking forward to the multiple series.”
Afghanistan spinners claimed eight of 10 wickets to secure a shock victory over the defending champions England at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
Afghanistan's T20I tour of India meanwhile begins on 11 January in Mohali.