Reports: India-Afghanistan ODI series to be postponed as BCCI plans to give players month-long repose

In a recent turn of events, a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series between India and Afghanistan that was originally slated to be played in June has reportedly been postponed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board in a mutual agreement. Notably, the series between the two Asian nations was originally scheduled to be played between June 23 and June 30 in a three-match fixture.

With the postponement of the series, the Indian team will get a much-needed break, after almost a two-month-long Indian Premier League, and are currently gearing up for the summit clash of the World Test Championship against Australia to be played at The Oval, London starting June 7. Post the WTC final against the Aussies, India will now most probably play the West Indies in a multi-format away series likely to commence on July 12, however, an official confirmation regarding the schedule is awaited.

“Yes, there will be a break after WTC Final. We are still trying to fit in the Afghanistan series. But at this stage, it looks difficult with the broadcaster deal and the West Indies tour. So, it’s the perfect window for the players’ rest,” a senior BCCI official told as quoted by India.com.

Neither of the respective boards has disclosed details about the exact dates of the series being rescheduled. But it can now be expected that the series will likely take place in the window before the commencement of the upcoming Asia Cup.

While the Rohit Sharma-led side is set to feature in the WTC final clash and will eye winning the coveted title this time round, Afghanistan, on the other hand, are playing against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series in the island nation. The series is currently levelled 1-1, and the third and final game will be played on Wednesday, June 7 in Hambantota. 

Afghanistan won the first ODI convincingly but were hammered badly in the second game as they got bundled out under 200 while chasing a mammoth target of 324 runs against the Dasun Shanaka-led side.