Why will Afghanistan host India in India?:Unique first in cricket history, Afghans play ‘home’ games in other nations despite own ground

India and Afghanistan are set for a multi-format bilateral series in what promises to be a fascinating showdown. Afghanistan are without a doubt, one of the most exciting teams in world cricket and to see them challenge India in their own backyard would be indeed magnificent to watch. The action will kickstart with a one-off Test and then, would go on to three ODIs. But amid the buzz for this series, there have been reports stating that Afghanistan would ‘host’ India for a T20I series in India. Interesting, isn’t it? When a team hosts another for a bilateral cricket series, the visiting side has to travel to the host nation. But in this case, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in India’s capital, Delhi, would see Afghanistan ‘host’ the Men in Blue. But why would Afghanistan be ‘hosting’ India in India? Why India’s cricketing ties with Afghanistan matter so much that the visitors are ready to provide their stadium as a neutral venue for Afghanistan? Let’s get to know. Why will Afghanistan ‘host’ India in India? Afghanistan have a stadium in Kandahar, which again has an India connection. And yet, they do not host international teams at the venue. The reason is primarily due to ongoing political instability, security concerns, and the lack of ICC-approved infrastructure. Not just in India, Afghanistan also hosts nations in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for red-ball and white-ball cricket. That’s why the UAE is called ‘second home’ for Afghanistan, but due to security concerns in the Middle East, seemingly because of the West Asia conflict, that option is not on the table. Visuals from Afghanistan’s Kandahar stadium (Credits: X) Should the series go through, it would be a unique first in cricket where a host nation (India) would be playing a bilateral series ‘hosted’ in their own country by another cricket board. It goes without saying that India are a big draw in international cricket and playing against the Men in Blue in a match or series is indeed a lucrative prospect for any other side. India ‘touring’ nations like Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe would do a world of good to the cricketing ecosystem of that nation. India’s unbounded support for Afghan cricket This would not be the first time that Afghanistan has hosted a team in India. In 2024, the BCCI arranged for Afghanistan to use the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida as a temporary home ground for their one-off Test against New Zealand. Afghanistan also hosted a Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Dehradun in 2018. Indian support for Afghan cricket included coaching, training facilities, and corporate sponsorships from companies such as Amul, FanCode, and TYKA. India also approved a $1 million grant to build a cricket stadium in Kandahar Province, which it did in 2014. The facility was jointly inaugurated by former Kandahar Governor Zalmai Wesa and the Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan at the time, Manpreet Vohra. Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja was Afghanistan’s mentor in their memorable 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, where the team led by Hashmatullah Shahidi beat three former world champions in England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. India also supported Afghanistan’s bid to gain full membership of the International Cricket Council in 2017, helping the team secure recognition on the global stage. After August 2021, the BCCI continued to support Afghan cricket in practical and visible ways. It provided training facilities, access to high‑quality stadiums, and opportunities for the Afghan team to play ‘home’ matches on Indian soil. The IPL also provided the necessary exposure that Afghan cricketers needed to stand out on the international stage. Some of the names who rose to prominence were Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Karim Janat. Why this support for Afghanistan cricket? India refused to formally recognise the Taliban government while raising concerns about human rights and governance. However, it continued to boost the cricketing ties with Afghanistan despite the differences. Some see India’s support of Afghan cricket as ‘soft power’ diplomacy aimed at countering the influence of Pakistan and China. While India might not necessarily show support for the Taliban government, their diplomacy through cricket is essentially aimed at maintaining ties with the Afghans. Cricket unites people and India’s stance is that of ensuring the growth and sustainability of Afghanistan cricket.