Afghanistan to play UAE in three T20Is in February as part of a five-year agreement

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) signed a five-year agreement with Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to host the latter’s home matches in Dubai and as a result, both sides will now engage in a three-match bilateral T20 series annually for the next five years. In return, logistical and infrastructure support for Afghanistan’s home matches will be provided by the ECB.

"We are honored to be [a] part of this partnership and are pleased with the results of our recent talks and negotiations with the Emirates Cricket Board. Playing this T20I series is the first step in our long-term commitment, and we are looking forward to a continued relationship with ECB," Naseeb Khan, CEO of the ACB, said. 

Both sides, who haven’t played each other since March 2018, will be playing the first of the five series in February which is not a part of the ICC's FTP during the 2023-27 cycle. The series is also the first for Afghanistan in 2023 with another three-match T20I series to be played against Pakistan in March. That series, however, will be played at a neutral venue, with the Afghanistan and Pakistan boards equally splitting the revenue.

Afghanistan will be playing under the tutelage of Raees Ahmadzai after the ACB decided not to renew the contracts of head coach Jonathan Trott and bowling coach Umar Gul. Rashid Khan will be leading the side.

Afghanistan's 22-member squad 

Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Abdul Rahman Rahmani, Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Bilal Sami, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Nangyal Kharoti, Naveen Ul Haq, Nijat Masoud, Noor Ahmad, Rahmat Shah, Sediqullah Atal, Shahidullah Kamal, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zahir Khan