Daily Times

LAHORE: The first-ever bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been postponed until next year over logistic and multiple issues, both boards decided on Tuesday. “Pakistan has accepted Afghanistan Board’s request to postpone next month’s ODI series due to players’ mental health issues, disruption in flight operations in Kabul and other issues,” Pakistan Cricket Board said. The series Afghanistan’s home series — due to be played in Sri Lankan port city of Hambantota was also hit by increased Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka where a ten-day lockdown was announced on Saturday. “There were a lack of broadcast facilities which was also a hurdle and both the boards will try to reschedule the series in 2022.”

The three-match series was part of One-day Super League, a qualification process for the 2023 World Cup (50 overs) to be held in India. Since the Taliban take over of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of USA and NATO forces and the collapse of the elected government there was a flight disruption in Kabul.

Afghanistan had also tried to move the series to Pakistan, but even that was not viable which finally prompted the two Boards to postpone the series. International players have also found it hard to cope with the Covid-19 situation since last year as they have to live under bio-secure bubble conditions, causing them mental issues. Considering that, Pakistan had decided to rest its key players including skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali for the Afghanistan series. Afghanistan had last month announced a 17-man squad for the series including their star leg-spinner Rashid Khan.