Pakistan, Afghanistan to play T20 matches, bilateral series

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shahryar Khan on Saturday announced two T20 matches and a bilateral cricket series in a joint press conference with Chairman Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) Atif Mashal.

"Pakistan and Afghanistan will play two T20 matches and a bilateral cricket series," Khan said, stating that the PCB is on good terms with the ACB.

Head of PCB's executive committee and PSL Chairman Najam Sethi said that Atif Mashal's visit to Pakistan will not only benefit cricket, it will also have a positive impact on the terms of the two countries, adding that Mashal is a close friend of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

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"Pakistan and Afghanistan will hold two friendly T20 matches in Kabul and Lahore," he said.

The Pakistani cricket team will visit Afghanistan to play the first match, following which its Afghan counterpart will come to Pakistan for the second match.

The ACB chairman said he was grateful to Khan for inviting the ACB for talks, emphasising that sports should be taken positively.

"It is necessary to keep sports and politics separate," Mashal said, adding that the meeting between the two cricket boards concluded positively.

Bilateral series between A-teams and Under-19 teams from both countries will also be announced soon, the PCB chairman said.