The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to turn its upcoming bilateral series against Afghanistan into a tri-nation series by adding the UAE, sources revealed on Thursday.
According to insiders, the series is expected to be played in the UAE before the Asia Cup 2025. The proposal aims to help players adjust to local conditions ahead of the major tournament. An official announcement is likely to follow the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting, which will take place in Bangladesh.
Earlier, Pakistan was scheduled to host Afghanistan in August for a bilateral series. However, the PCB suggested converting it into a tri-series and shifting it to the UAE to offer better preparation for all participating teams.
Sources said discussions are in the final stages and the complete schedule and venues will be confirmed once the ACC meeting concludes.
Meanwhile, the ACC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being held in Bangladesh with high participation. Out of 25 member countries, 24 have confirmed attendance, which exceeds the required quorum of 13. This is being seen as a diplomatic win for ACC President Mohsin Naqvi.
There was some resistance initially from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), and Oman Cricket regarding the venue of the meeting. However, after continuous efforts from Naqvi, the AGM is now proceeding as planned in Dhaka.
Notably, India is also taking part in the meeting virtually, with BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla expected to join online — a shift from the board’s earlier stance.