AFG vs WI: Afghanistan to host West Indies for T20I series ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Afghanistan will host West Indies for a three-match T20I series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between January 19 and 22 next year, as both teams continue their build-up to the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Both sides had sealed automatic qualification for the showpiece event after finishing in the top seven in the previous edition of the competition in 2024.

While the West Indies will arrive at the tournament as the only team to have won it twice (2012, 2016) alongside India, Afghanistan had claimed its first-ever top-four finish in 2024 after finishing the semifinals.

Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Naseeb Khan said the series presents an important opportunity for Afghanistan to fine-tune their preparations for the global event set to be hosted in February-March.

“Competing against the West Indies on the brink of a global event presents an excellent opportunity for our team to finalise their lineup and enhance their preparations for the upcoming mega event in India and Sri Lanka,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Cricket West Indies (CWI) director of cricket Miles Bascombe highlighted the importance of the series in sharpening their squad ahead of the marquee event.

“Facing strong opposition in subcontinental conditions will help us sharpen our combinations and approach, and it also gives our players a chance to build confidence on surfaces similar to those we’ll encounter in India and Sri Lanka,” Bascombe said.

Series schedule

1st T20I - January 19, UAE

2nd T20I - January 21, UAE

3rd T20I - January 22, UAE

Published on Nov 07, 2025

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