New Delhi , May 10 :
Ahead of their Test debut against India, Afghanistan are all set to host Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series in the northern Indian city of Dehradun next month.
All three matches will be a day-night fixture and will be held on June 3, 5 and 7 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Confirming the news, ACB chairman Atif Mashal said, “ACB is delighted to host Bangladesh for the T20I series in Dehradun in early June which will be a good opportunity for both sides to play competitive cricket. Similarly, cricket fans have also previously enjoyed games between the two sides and this will be yet another opportunity for them to witness their sides play against each other.”
The Afghanistan cricket team have had their training base in India since 2015, and the country’s cricket board CEO Shafiq Stanikzai said that the national selectors would rope in players for the T20I series from the pool currently participating in a training camp in India.
“The ongoing training camp in India in which players from the national and U-19 teams as well as top performers from domestic cricket will help the selection committee to select a strong side for the T20I series against Bangladesh. These matches will be important for both sides to gain valuable points in the ICC rankings and the lead up to the 2020 ICC World Twenty20,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Stanikzai as saying. It should be noted that the two sides had played against each other only once previously when hosts Bangladesh thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets at the 2014 World Twenty20 in Dhaka.
Following the T20Is series against Bangladesh, Afghanistan will play their maiden Test against India begins from June 14 in Bengaluru.
