Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Cricket Series Canceled Due to Iran War | cricket news

Afghanistan was scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a six-match series in the UAE, rocked by Iran attacks.

Sri Lanka has indefinitely postponed its six-match limited-overs cricket series against Afghanistan, which was scheduled to begin this week in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“We had to cancel because of the flight situation and the ongoing fighting in the area,” a Sri Lankan cricket official told AFP news agency on Monday.

The teams were scheduled to play three T20 Internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17 and three ODIs in Dubai on March 20, 22 and 25.

This is the first time Afghanistan is hosting Sri Lanka for a bilateral series.

Fighting has spread across the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks.

The conflict has disrupted flights across the region, including in Dubai, where the airport was briefly closed as Iran fired drones and missiles at targets across the Gulf.

Afghanistan has never hosted an international cricket match, instead having to play its home matches in India or the UAE.

Earlier, Sri Lanka appointed former South African Test player Gary Kirsten as their new coach after Sanath Jayasuriya quit following the team’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Kirsten will start a two-year contract on April 15, although Jayasuriya’s contract does not expire until the end of June.

Kirsten previously served as India coach from 2008 to 2011 and South Africa coach from 2011 to 2013.