LAHORE – A much-anticipated ODI series between Pakistan and Afghanistan cricket teams has been postponed till next year, it emerged on Monday.
Reports citing sources from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have confirmed the development, stating that the neighbouring country did not agree to host the tournament in Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, Federal Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said in a tweet that Pakistan has issued visas to the Afghan cricket team.
The series was scheduled to begin on September 1 in Sri Lanka but Colombo has imposed gathering restrictions for 10-day due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Pakistani authorities had reportedly contacted the Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) to hold the series in Pakistan.
On August 18, rhe Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) had cleared uncertainty over an ODI series between Pakistan and Afghanistan teams, saying the tournament will be played as per schedule.
Doubts grew about the cricket series after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, ousting President Ashraf Ghani’s government on Sunday.
In a statement, ACB said that any change of government in the country would not affect the ODI series against Pakistan.
ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari in a statement said, “Taliban love cricket and they are supporting their team”. He added that the matches will be played as per schedule in Sri Lanka.
PCB and ACB are yet to make official statements in this regard.
