ACB Considers September 14 for India-Afghanistan T20I

NEW DELHI:
As part of a special gesture, The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is considering September 14 as one of the match dates for the India-Afghanistan T20I series, coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi, one of India’s most widely observed and auspicious festivals. If confirmed, the fixture could add a distinctive cultural dimension to the series and create a special occasion for cricket fans around the country.

The matches are currently proposed to be played at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. Discussions with leading broadcasters like Sony Sports and Star Sports are currently underway for the television broadcast, with the series expected to bring India and Afghanistan together for a significant bilateral T20I contest in the capital, furthering the growing cricketing relationship between the two nations.

The India-Afghanistan series will also see ITW Universe handle the media rights, on-ground branding and production mandate, bringing together its capabilities across broadcast production, sports marketing, storytelling and commercial partnerships. The mandate adds another international cricket property to the company’s growing sports portfolio.

Bhairav Shanth, Co-Founder, ITW Universe, said: “The India-Afghanistan T20I series is a landmark moment, with Afghanistan hosting India in a bilateral series for the first time. We are excited to bring our media and production capabilities to the property, along with several visual and storytelling upgrades that will create a richer experience for fans. Should the schedule align with Ganesh Chaturthi, it would be a thoughtful gesture from the ACB, adding a meaningful cultural dimension to an already special occasion. It could make the series a weekend bonanza for fans, bringing together sport, celebration and goodwill between the two nations.”

Shubhodip Pal, Chief Executive Officer, ITW Integrated Marketing Services (ITW IMS), said: “International cricket offers brands a strong environment to build meaningful connections with highly engaged audiences. For the India-Afghanistan series, we are crafting exciting packages across both on-ground and on-air platforms, giving brands the opportunity to build relevant associations around the property.”

With the series expected to attract strong interest among cricket audiences in India and Afghanistan, the property also presents an opportunity for brands to build associations around an international sporting event.