Afghanistan to tour UAE for five white-ball fixtures in December

After an impressive showing in the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan will look to build on it when they travel to the UAE to play three T20Is and two 50-over matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The two 50-over games will be played on December 25 and 27 while the subsequent T20I series will begin on December 29, before the second and third games on December 31 and January 2.

The 'Blue Tigers' made quite an impression during the World Cup as they defeated former champions England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The performance enhanced their reputation as a cricketing nation improving at a rapid rate. Afghanistan are also set to face India in a three-match T20I series in January and the series against the UAE will help them prepare for the challenging India tour.

Rashid Khan and Co. toured the UAE earlier this year for a three-match T20I series. The visitors won by a 2-1 margin in a hard-fought series. Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan was happy with the collaboration with the UAE Cricket Board and stated that the previous series between the two teams helped them in their preparations for the tournaments that followed.

“Our collaboration with the UAE Cricket Board has been helpful. The inaugural UAE Series earlier this year offered us an excellent foundation to prepare for following events throughout the year. Banking on our positive previous experience, we eagerly anticipate the upcoming UAE series for the same purpose again," Khan told Emirates Cricket.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, Mubashshir Usmani, lauded Afghanistan's performances in the World Cup and acknowledged that they have a strong fan base in the UAE. He is hopeful that his players will benefit immensely from playing a side like Afghanistan.

“We are delighted to host the Afghanistan team for the second time this year. We had a hugely competitive T20I series in February and this tour will once again provide excellent opportunities to our seasoned as well as young players against a formidable opponent. Afghanistan performed incredibly well in the ODI World Cup, and they are a team on the rise with a strong support base in the UAE. We look forward to welcoming the Afghanistan team," Usmani said.