Afghanistan vs Pakistan Three-Match ODI Series Postponed Due To 'Player's Mental Health, Disruption Of Flights'

Players are not getting enough time to prepare due to the regime change in Afghanistan. Moreover, the flight operations have also been suspended at Kabul airport.

Afghanistan vs Pakistan (Image: Getty)

New Delhi: Amid the worsening situation after since the takeover by the Taliban, it has been decided to postpone Afghanistan's three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

According to media reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Monday initially decided to host the series in Pakistan from September 3 instead of Afghanistan.

However, later in the day, ACB came to the conclusion that the mental health of the players has been affected following Taliban's takeover of the war-torn nation. Players are not getting enough time to prepare due to the regime change in the country. Moreover, the flight operations have also been suspended at Kabul airport.

Hence, keeping in mind the mental health of the players, the board decided that it was best to put the series on hold. The two boards have agreed that the series, which was planned from September 1-8, will be rescheduled for 2022.

As quoted by news agency PTI, ACB CEO Hamid Shinwari said, "Due to the overall conditions including mental health of the players, we had to postpone the series."

Similarly, PCB Director International Zakir Khan in a statement said that the PCB historically enjoys an excellent relationship with the ACB however the current challenges cannot be ignored and therefore, agreed to reschedule the series for 2022.

Zakir Khan assured to do everything to ensure the series is played in 2022 as it is critical for both the sides in terms of direct qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.