Afghanistan shockingly ditch Pakistan tri-series; 'Humiliated' Mohsin Naqvi begs ICC for replacement team

In a significant development, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials have reportedly confirmed that Afghanistan will not tour Pakistan for the upcoming T20 Tri-Series. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing alternative arrangements amid ongoing military tensions between the two countries.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled to tour Pakistan for a T20 Tri-Series from November 17 to 29. However, rising military tensions between the two countries have created uncertainty over Afghanistan’s participation, with reports suggesting they might reconsider traveling amid the ongoing conflict.

Afghanistan’s Participation in Doubt as PCB Considers Alternative Options

According to PTI, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to prepare alternative plans to ensure the Tri-Series proceeds as scheduled.

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“The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has asked the International Cricket Council to start working on an alternate plan as he wants the Tri-Series to go ahead," news agency PTI cited a source as saying.

Pakistan was set to host a seven-match T20I series featuring Sri Lanka and Afghanistan from November 17 in Rawalpindi, with a final on November 29 in Lahore. However, recent deadly clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have caused significant casualties.

Pakistan’s military reported killing over 200 Taliban and other fighters while losing 23 soldiers and injuring 20. Afghanistan, meanwhile, claimed 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed, with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stating that Kabul had met its objectives and paused hostilities temporarily.

PCB Invites Sri Lanka for Three T20Is Ahead of Tri-Series

The Pakistan Cricket Board has invited Sri Lanka to play three T20 internationals from November 11 to 15, ahead of the Tri-Series involving Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Notably, the PCB and Sri Lankan cricket board are reportedly holding discussions to arrange a three-match T20 series in Colombo from January 1 to 10.

If the series goes ahead in January, it could create a conflict with Cricket Australia, which has already signed several Pakistan players for the Big Bash League scheduled in December and January.

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Hassan Khan, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali signed contracts with BBL franchises. Notably, Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen are set to make their Big Bash debuts during the tournament.

“Obviously, if the series with Sri Lanka is finalized, then either the selectors play without these players or the duration of their NOCs will have to be reconsidered by the PCB, meaning a disagreement with Cricket Australia," the source said.

Cricket Australia Contacts PCB After NOC Suspension for Players

Following the PCB’s recent decision to suspend all NOCs for players playing in various leagues, Cricket Australia (CA) reached out to resolve the issue. CA officials reportedly highlighted that their franchises had already invested millions in promotional campaigns around Pakistani players for the BBL.

Meanwhile, the Desert Vipers franchise in the Emirates International League has signed three Pakistan players for the upcoming season.

Pakistan’s only major white-ball series before the ICC World T20 Cup will be in January, when Australia tours the country to play three ODIs and three T20 internationals.

Also read: David Warner drops payload of explosives on England before Ashes