Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka cricket series called off due to Iran war

Afghanistan were due to host Sri Lanka for a six-match series in the UAE, which has been hit by attacks from Iran.

Sri Lanka have indefinitely postponed a six-match limited-overs cricket series against Afghanistan that was due to start in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“We had to cancel because of the flight situation… and the ongoing fighting in the region,” a Sri Lanka Cricket official told the AFP news agency on Monday.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 items

end of list

The teams were scheduled to play 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 been the first time that Afghanistan had hosted Sri Lanka for a bilateral series.

Fighting has spread across the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with Tehran launching retaliatory strikes.

The conflict has disrupted flights across the region, including in Dubai, where the airport was briefly closed as Iran fired drones and missiles at targets across the Gulf.

Afghanistan has never hosted an international cricket match, instead having to play its home fixtures in India or the UAE.

Earlier, Sri Lanka named former South African Test player Gary Kirsten as their new coach after Sanath Jayasuriya quit following the team’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Kirsten would begin a two-year contract on April 15, even though Jayasuriya’s contract was not set to expire until the end of June.

Kirsten previously served as India coach from 2008 to 2011, and as South Africa coach from 2011 to 2013.

Read More

  • Related Posts

    Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to temporary Eid al-Fitr ‘pause’ in conflict

    Pakistani minister says five-day pause, to begin at midnight Thursday, requested by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye. Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a temporary “pause” in hostilities during the…

    Afghanistan under Taliban a “society of gender apartheid”

    Quotable David Sedney, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defense, says that Afghan society is suffering under “gender apartheid”. Published On 17 Dec 2025 Read More

    You Missed

    Rebel Wilson is asked ‘did you just make that up?’ as she steps into the witness box at Charlotte MacInnes defamation trial

    • By poster
    • May 1, 2026
    • 1 views
    Rebel Wilson is asked ‘did you just make that up?’ as she steps into the witness box at Charlotte MacInnes defamation trial

    Aussie FIFO worker sacked for going skinny dipping wins $10,000 payout

    • By poster
    • May 1, 2026
    • 1 views
    Aussie FIFO worker sacked for going skinny dipping wins $10,000 payout

    Aussies laugh at huge fail as a FOURTH bin is slowly rolled out across Victoria

    • By poster
    • May 1, 2026
    • 1 views
    Aussies laugh at huge fail as a FOURTH bin is slowly rolled out across Victoria

    Newly engaged Zoe Kravitz shows off $1million diamond ring as details of Harry Styles proposal emerge

    • By poster
    • May 1, 2026
    • 1 views
    Newly engaged Zoe Kravitz shows off $1million diamond ring as details of Harry Styles proposal emerge

    Melania Trump stuns in yellow skirt suit as she joins husband Donald to greet King Charles and Queen Camilla for state visit

    • By poster
    • May 1, 2026
    • 1 views
    Melania Trump stuns in yellow skirt suit as she joins husband Donald to greet King Charles and Queen Camilla for state visit

    Paralympics hero’s son, 16, fights off hundreds of plucky racers wading across boggy riverbed to win annual Maldon Mud Race

    • By poster
    • May 1, 2026
    • 1 views
    Paralympics hero’s son, 16, fights off hundreds of plucky racers wading across boggy riverbed to win annual Maldon Mud Race