Published on: Mar 11, 2026 12:37 pm IST|Updated on: Mar 11, 2026 12:37 pm IST
The United States of America’s and Iran’s war has taken a massive toll on the international cricket calendar. The upcoming white-ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates, has been postponed indefinitely. The decision, confirmed by officials from both boards on March 11, 2026, comes as the Middle East and Western Asia grapple with a rapidly escalating military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The series, which was scheduled to feature three T20 Internationals in Sharjah followed by three One-Day Internationals in Dubai from March 13 to March 25, became logistically impossible as regional airspace turned into a war no one saw coming.
The postponement was not a choice made lightly, but rather one forced by the harsh reality of grounded flights and compromised security right after the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2025. Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Naseeb Khan detailed the inevitable hurdles that faced the organizers.
“There were some issues with flights, logistics, and the regional situation,” Khan told reporters. “We also explored a second option to stage these matches in Sri Lanka and remained in continuous contact with Sri Lanka Cricket. However, there were no available flights from the UAE to Sri Lanka at that time.”
Beyond the simple act of moving players, the complexity of hosting an international series involves a massive machinery of broadcast crews, hotel staff, and security personnel. With regional transit hubs like Dubai experiencing intermittent closures and major airlines rerouting or canceling flights to avoid conflict zones, the risk to players and support staff was deemed too high.
For both nations, the series was meant to be a pivotal moment of transition following the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan’s New Era: The series was set to mark the debut of Ibrahim Zadran as the regular T20I captain. Zadran was recently appointed to lead the shortest format, taking the reins from the legendary Rashid Khan as part of a long-term strategic vision by the ACB.
Sri Lanka’s Technical Shift: For the Sri Lankan side, the tour was anticipated as a critical testing ground for the tactical adjustments under their coaching staff, including the recently discussed integration of legendary figures like Gary Kirsten into the setup.
The postponement leaves both teams in a state of competitive limbo. While Afghanistan continues to prove they are a powerhouse on the rise—having reached the semi-finals in the 2024 T20 World Cup and maintaining a strong presence in the 2026 edition—the lack of game time against top-tier opponents like Sri Lanka is a significant setback to their developmental curve.
The UAE has long served as the “home away from home” for Afghanistan, providing world-class facilities when security concerns prevented matches in Kabul. However, the current conflict has turned even this neutral sanctuary into a difficult staging ground.
The crisis escalated following military strikes involving the US and Israel targeting Iranian assets, which triggered a domino effect across the Gulf. This has not only affected the Afghanistan-Sri Lanka series but has also disrupted other ICC events, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches involving Oman and Nepal.
While fans are understandably disappointed, the overarching sentiment from the cricketing community is one of safety first. The West Indies and South African teams, who were also in the region or transiting through, reportedly faced similar difficulties in securing commercial flights home, highlighting the broad reach of the travel chaos.
According to ACB officials, the series is likely to be rescheduled for the last quarter of 2026, potentially in a window between October and December. However, this remains contingent on a stabilization of the regional political climate, which looks far from getting over as of now.
For now, the bats remain in their bags, and the stadiums in Sharjah and Dubai stand empty. In a region where cricket often serves as a rare bridge for diplomacy and a source of national pride, the silence on the pitch serves as a stark testament to the severity of the conflict unfolding off it.