Afghanistan announce first bilateral T20I series against Bangladesh

• Afghanistan will take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series in June

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have announced a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh to be played in India in June.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun will host the three fixtures, scheduled for 3, 5 and 7 of June, before Afghanistan take on India in their inaugural Test match, starting in Bengaluru on 14 June. 

ACB chairman Atif Mashal said: “ACB is delighted to host Bangladesh for the T20I series in Dehradun in early June which will be a good opportunity for both sides to play competitive cricket. Similarly, cricket fans have also previously enjoyed games between the two sides and this will be yet another opportunity for them to witness their sides play against each other.”

“This promises to be a very competitive series,” added Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury. “Afghanistan have some fine players for this format and they will have the advantage of familiarity with the conditions in Dehradun. However, the Bangladesh team is a confident and experienced unit and we are really looking forward to the matches.”

Afghanistan and Bangladesh have only met once previously in the shortest format, with the latter winning by nine wickets at the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. 

Bangladesh will be hoping to gain ground on Afghanistan in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Rankings – they currently sit in 10th spot, two places behind their opponents.