The dates for the upcoming T20I series between India and Afghanistan could be changed, with the two cricket boards discussing a possible revision. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has reportedly approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with a request to advance the three-match series.
The T20I matches are currently scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17. However, the proposed revised dates are September 11, 13 and 14. If the request is accepted, the final match would be played on September 14, which coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi.
The ACB is believed to have put forward the proposal after receiving requests from its stakeholders. The board reportedly feels that scheduling a game during the festival period could attract more spectators and generate higher television viewership.
All three matches are set to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series is particularly significant for Afghanistan as it will be the first bilateral series in which Afghanistan is officially listed as the host against India, even though the matches will be held in India.
There is some expectation within the ACB that the BCCI may agree to the proposed changes. India’s schedule could allow room for the adjustment, with the Sri Lanka Test series ending on August 27 and the Asian Games beginning on September 24. The proposed Bangladesh series also appears unlikely to take place during this period.
The DDCA, which will host the matches in Delhi, has said it currently has no information about any change in the schedule. The BCCI and ACB are yet to make an official announcement regarding the proposed dates.
India and Afghanistan recently faced each other in a Test and three-match ODI series in June. The upcoming T20Is will complete the teams’ bilateral contests across all three formats.
