Sri Lanka to host Pakistan-Afghanistan ODI series ahead of Asia Cup 2023

Afghanistan and Pakistan will play three One-Day Internationals (ODI) at neutral venues in Sri Lanka next month, it was announced on Monday (July 31). This will be the first bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as the two countries have only played four ODIs in the past.

The first match in Sharjah in 2012 was Afghanistan's first ODI against a Test-playing nation, while the other three meetings were in the Asia Cup (twice) and at the 2019 World Cup. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the schedule was confirmed after consultation with Pakistan.

"The three ODI matches are scheduled for August 22nd, 24th, and 26th and will take place in two separate venues in Sri Lanka," said an ACB release.

The first two matches are set to be held in Hambantota, with the third and final match to be played in Colombo. ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf hopes the series will help his team prepare for the Asia Cup and this year's World Cup.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will jointly host the Asia Cup from August 30-September 17. India will host the World Cup from October 5-November 19.

Afghanistan beat a depleted Pakistan team 2-1 in their first-ever T20 International (T20I) series in Sharjah in March this year.