The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has authorized Afghanistan to conduct their forthcoming series against Bangladesh within India.
As reported by the Times of India, the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida will serve as Afghanistan’s designated home venue. This marks their return after a four-year hiatus since their last appearance in 2020. The preliminary schedule shows that the white-ball series is scheduled to take place between July and August.
The TOI report states that the series will consist of three ODIs and three T20Is, scheduled from July 25 to August 6. Bangladesh will arrive in Greater Noida from New Delhi on July 22, allowing a brief training period before their first ODI.
This won’t be Afghanistan’s first appearance at the Greater Noida venue. In December 2015, the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the BCCI signed an MoU designating the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Noida as their home ground. Afghanistan has since hosted ‘home’ fixtures in Dehradun, Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, and Greater Noida. They have won eight out of the eleven matches contested at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.
In 2017, Afghanistan played their first ODI against Ireland at this venue. Following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan hosted most of their home matches in the UAE. However, negotiations between the ACB and the BCCI during the 2023 World Cup have facilitated their return to India.
Both teams are currently concentrating on the T20 World Cup 2024, which has reached the Super Eight stage. They aim to secure spots in the semi-finals after facing setbacks in their opening matches against India and Australia.
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