Another Setback for PCB!! Pakistan Tri-series to get cancelled due to Afghanistan's withdrawal
Currently hosting South Africa, Pakistan is having the busiest of home seasons, as they are also scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a series immediately after the ongoing series concludes. They would then host Afghanistan and Sri Lanka for a T20I tri-series for the first time on their soil.
The South Africa tour of Pakistan comprises 2 Test matches, which will be followed by a 3-match ODI series and then a 3-match T20I series as well. Ahead of the next year, Pakistan has lined up a home season comprising nearly 10+ white-ball games between October and November.
PCB's major setback: Faces Afghanistan as a major roadblock en route to their maiden T20I tri-series
The PCB has often been subjected to acute criticism since the Asia Cup 2025, and was then issued several warnings by the BCCI over the Asia Cup Trophy row surrounding their chief and ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Alongside all these controversies, they would further have to sustain the blow in the form of the Afghanistan team forbidding themselves from travelling to the neighbouring nation for the tri-series to be held next month.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to host Afghanistan and Sri Lanka for a tri-series in the shortest of the game. This would make PCB's first such association in the format, after they hosted South Africa and New Zealand earlier this year for an ODI tri-series.
However, with concerns over security threats amid the cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the latter might not be travelling for the tri-series. Under such circumstances, they would have to quest for another team to save their tri-series hopes from getting crushed.
Pakistan to tour Sri Lanka ahead of ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Before the tri-series begins on the 17th of November, the Pakistan team will be hosting Asian rivals Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series as a part of their hectic home season schedule. This marks the first time Sri Lanka is travelling to Pakistan for an ODI series since the last bilateral series played in 2019.
The matches have been scheduled to be played on the 11th, 13th and 15th of November, with Rawalpindi the common for all the matches.
Pakistan has also stirred up plans to feature against Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka next year in January. They are reportedly in talks with Sri Lanka Cricket over the tour ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
The Lankas are the co-hosts of the next World T20 Championship, and Pakistan, due to its deal with BCCI, is likely to play most of its matches in Sri Lanka. Hence, the tour would help their players adapt to the Lankan conditions ahead of the ICC event.
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