DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has confirmed that the West Indies will visit the UAE for a three-match T20 International series from January 19 to 22, 2025, as both nations continue their buildup to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled in India and Sri Lanka.
The fixtures, set for January 19, 21, and 22, are expected to provide crucial match practice in subcontinental conditions, giving both sides the chance to refine strategies, test combinations, and gain confidence ahead of the marquee tournament.
Automatic qualification and historical context
Both Afghanistan and the West Indies secured automatic qualification for the T20 World Cup, finishing among the top seven teams at the 2024 edition.
The West Indies arrive as two-time champions (2012 and 2016), the only team alongside India to claim the title twice. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will carry the confidence of a historic top-four finish, reaching the semi-finals in 2024 for the first time in their history.
Busy lead-up for both teams
The UAE series comes at a busy period for both nations. The West Indies, fresh from a 3-0 series sweep over Bangladesh, are currently engaged in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand and will face South Africa soon after their January UAE assignment.
Afghanistan, for its part, will next compete in a three-match T20I series against Qatar, beginning Saturday, November 8, offering an early opportunity to fine-tune their playing XI and evaluate emerging talents before taking on the Caribbean side.
Officials stress strategic value
ACB Chief Executive Naseeb Khan hailed the series as a pivotal step in Afghanistan’s World Cup preparations.
“Competing against the West Indies on the brink of a global event presents an excellent opportunity for our team to finalize their line-up and enhance their preparations for the upcoming mega event in India and Sri Lanka,” Khan said.
Echoing this, Miles Bascombe, Director of Cricket for Cricket West Indies (CWI), emphasized the importance of the series in sharpening the squad.
“Facing strong opposition in subcontinental conditions will help us sharpen our combinations and approach, and it also gives our players a chance to build confidence on surfaces similar to those we’ll encounter in India and Sri Lanka,” Bascombe said.
Series schedule
· 1st T20I: January 19, UAE
· 2nd T20I: January 21, UAE
· 3rd T20I: January 22, UAE
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