Afghanistan Team Trapped In America-Iran War, Series All But Cancelled

AFG vs SL 2026 might get cancelled due to ongoing US-Iran War (PC-AFP/x.com)

Amidst the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, certain areas around the the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have become the centre of tension. Travel to certain parts of these Gulf countries has become near-impossible, making the upcoming white-ball series between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan uncertain.

The Afghanistan Cricket team, who has adopted Sharjah & Dubai as their home grounds, is slated to host Sri Lanka for the white-ball series in the given stadiums. However, with the given global tension, the series scheduled for next month can get cancelled.

AFG vs SL 2026 to get cancelled or shifted: Reports

As reported by an Afghan media outlet, ACB Xtra, the upcoming series may be cancelled or shifted to Sri Lanka. Notably, Afghanistan are hosting Sri Lanka for the first time, with three T20Is and ODIs scheduled to start on March 13 and the final match of the series to end on March 25.

The Sharjah Cricket Ground are scheduled to host the three T20Is on March 13, 15 and 17, respectively. Meanwhile, the iconic Dubai International Stadium will host the three ODIs between March 20 and 25.

"If the Iran-Israel conflict goes on, the AFGvSL Series will likely be cancelled or can be shifted to Sri Lanka," the report by ACB Xtra said on X.

ACB Xtra

@acb_190

If the Iran-Israel conflict goes on, the AFGvSL Series will likely be cancelled or can be shifted to Sri Lanka.

Having said that, if Sri Lanka hosts the series, it remains uncertain whether the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) will remain the host. The ACB or the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are yet to make an official statement on the matter.

What's happening in US-Israel vs Iran war?

After a joint attack carried out by the United States of America and Israel, which assassinated the Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an operation named Operation Lion's Roar by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the US. Later, Iran retaliated with missiles towards Israel and carried out attacks on the US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain.

As per reports quoted by Hindustan Times, around 555 individuals were killed in Iran, with more than 700 injured due to the strikes carried out by the US and Israel. The same report also mentioned that 31 lives were ended by the Iranian missiles in Lebanon, three people in the UAE, and around nine in Israel. With the war still going on, the death toll is likely to increase.

Journey for Sri Lanka, Afghanistan in T20 World Cup 2026

Afghanistan, who finished as semifinalists in the previous edition, were eliminated in the Group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 after losing to South Africa and New Zealand earlier in the tournament. Having said that, the Rashid Khan-led unit lost to the Proteas in a double Super-Over.

On the other hand, the co-hosts, Sri Lanka, advanced from the Group stage to the Super 8s, finishing just below Zimbabwe. However, they lost all their Super 8 fixtures, ending the tournament as a disappointment.

Nevertheless, the four semifinalists of the T20 World Cup 2026 are locked in, with South Africa and New Zealand to play the first semifinal in Kolkata on Wednesday, and India will lock horns with England on Thursday at Mumbai.

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