The upcoming T20I series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, originally planned as a bilateral contest in Pakistan, is likely to be transformed into a tri-nation series in the UAE, with the hosts joining as the third team.
Sources indicate that this shift is linked to the prospect of the 2025 T20 Asia Cup being held in the UAE, despite India being the official host. Due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, India and Pakistan have agreed to play at neutral venues for multi-team events, with September tentatively marked for the tournament.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have never played a bilateral series on Pakistani soil. Their last T20I series, held in the UAE in March 2023, saw Afghanistan register their first series win against Pakistan. The two sides last met in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Afghanistan claimed their maiden ODI victory over Pakistan.
Pakistan and the UAE, meanwhile, have only faced off in multi-nation tournaments, including the Asia Cup and World Cups, with their most recent clash in the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh.
