West Indies and Afghanistan are set to meet in a three-match T20I series in Sharjah in January 2026 as both teams gear up for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The series will begin on January 19 and run through January 22, offering both sides valuable preparation time ahead of the global tournament starting in February.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said the series will serve as an important stepping stone for their World Cup plans. “This series provides an ideal platform for our preparation. Playing against strong opposition in subcontinental-style conditions will help us fine-tune our combinations and approach. It also gives our players the opportunity to adapt to surfaces similar to those we’ll encounter in India and Sri Lanka,” Bascombe noted.
The last T20 World Cup, co-hosted by West Indies, saw the Caribbean side reach the Super Eight stage before being knocked out, while Afghanistan made history by advancing to the semi-finals for the first time. Overall, the two teams have faced each other in eight T20Is, with West Indies holding a 5-3 advantage.
All three matches of the upcoming series will be played in Sharjah on January 19, 21, and 22. Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan emphasized the importance of the series, saying, “Facing West Indies right before a global event gives our players a perfect chance to finalize their combinations and refine strategies for the mega tournament.”
West Indies are currently engaged in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, trailing 2-1, while Afghanistan’s last T20I outing was a clean-sweep 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe in October. Both teams will look to use the Sharjah series to gain form and confidence ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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