Afghanistan in India 2026/27

The **Afghanistan in India** arrangement is not a distinct tournament or league. It is a bilateral cricket series format where India hosts the Afghanistan national team. The setup relies on a formal agreement between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). This arrangement was established via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2015.

Security concerns and a lack of ICC-approved international facilities in Afghanistan led to this unique solution. The ACB utilizes Indian venues—such as Greater Noida, Dehradun, Lucknow, and New Delhi—as its "home" grounds. Consequently, Afghanistan is designated as the "home team" in these fixtures. This designation allows it to earn home-series revenue and maintain administrative status, despite the matches being played on Indian soil.

The format is distinct in international cricket as it represents a sovereign nation using another country's infrastructure as its official home venue. This practice differs from standard neutral venues used for finals or specific tournaments.

Historical instances of this series include a three-match T20I contest in January 2024, which India won 3–0. A three-match ODI series followed in January 2023, also resulting in a 3–0 victory for India. More recently, a multi-format series in June 2026 included a one-off Test match and a three-match ODI series. India won the Test by an innings and 262 runs and the ODI series 3–0. A T20I series is scheduled for September 2026 in Delhi. Matches are set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The Afghanistan Premier League (APL), a domestic franchise tournament, is not hosted in India. It was held in the UAE and is scheduled to relaunch there. The rivalry between the two teams is characterized by India's dominance in bilateral white-ball cricket, though Afghanistan has been competitive in ICC tournament settings. This arrangement serves as a practical solution for Afghanistan to play competitive cricket while adhering to safety protocols.