Afghanistan-Sri Lanka cricket series postponed amid Middle East conflict

Sri Lanka has indefinitely postponed a six-match limited-overs cricket series against Afghanistan, scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates this month, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East disrupting flights.

A Sri Lanka Cricket official told the AFP news agency that the cancellation was necessary "because of the flight situation… and the ongoing fighting in the region." The series included three T20 internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17, and three one-day internationals in Dubai on March 20, 22 and 25. It would have marked the first bilateral series Afghanistan hosted against Sri Lanka, though Afghanistan has never hosted international matches on its soil and plays home fixtures in India or the UAE.

Amu TV, citing US media outlet ESPIN, reported that the Afghanistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket agreed the matches could not proceed in the UAE due to the regional situation, though neither board has issued an official statement. Discussions on alternative options continue, but relocating to another country appears unlikely due to logistical challenges.

The postponement was to be Afghanistan's first series under new captain Ibrahim Zadran, who replaced Rashid Khan following the team's group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup.

The conflict, which escalated after US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 followed by Tehran's retaliatory strikes, has caused widespread flight disruptions, including a brief closure of Dubai airport. It has also affected other cricket events, such as the postponement of six matches in Nepal's Cricket World Cup League 2 and travel delays for teams in the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.