NEW DELHI: Despite Afghanistan's withdrawal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday confirmed that the three-nation T20I series will go ahead as planned in Lahore from November 17 to 29.
A senior PCB official said discussions are underway with a few other cricket boards to find a replacement for Afghanistan, with Sri Lanka already confirmed as the third participant in the tournament.
"The Tri-Series will progress as scheduled even after Afghanistan's withdrawal. We are looking at a replacement team and once finalised, the announcement will be made. The Tri-Series features a third team in Sri Lanka so it is on from 17th November," he said.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has decided against sending its team to Pakistan for the upcoming tournament, citing the deaths of three Afghan cricketers who, it claimed, were killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province.
Since attaining Test status, Afghanistan has not engaged in a bilateral series with Pakistan. However, prior to their ICC recognition, Afghanistan's A teams often toured Pakistan, and many of its players honed their skills at training facilities there.
At one time, Pakistan had also allowed Afghanistan cricketers to play in their domestic events.
Statement of Condolence
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 17, 2025
The Afghanistan Cricket Board expresses its deepest sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District in Paktika Province, who were targeted this evening in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.
In… pic.twitter.com/YkenImtuVR
A reliable source said that the international cricket department of the PCB was currently even looking at associate member teams including Nepal and UAE as replacements for Afghanistan, but their priority is to get a Test playing nation to participate in the tri-series.
Pakistan will also host Sri Lanka for a three-match bilateral T20 series from November 11 to 15.
Pakistan's relation with Afghanistan has remained tense for a while now and even though they hosted a tri-series, also featuring the UAE in Sharjah, prior to the Asia Cup.
Pakistani and Afghani spectators were seated in diffDespite the pull out by Afghanistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday that the three-nation T20I tournament will be held on schedule from November 17 to 29 in Lahore.
A senior PCB official said they are in talks with a few other boards to replace Afghanistan in the tri-series in which Sri Lanka is the third side.erent enclosures to avoid clashes.
(With PTI Inputs)
