Sport
T20 World Cup warm-up match schedule released, Afghanistan to face Oman and Scotland
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the much-anticipated warm-up match schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. These preparatory games will take place from Monday, May 27 to Saturday, June 1, across various venues in the USA and the West Indies.
Venues and teams
The 16 warm-up matches will be hosted at the following locations:
- Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
- Broward County Stadium, Florida
- Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
- Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
A total of 17 teams will participate in these matches, including South Africa, which will conduct an intra-squad game on May 29 in Florida. These matches will not carry official T20 international status, allowing teams the flexibility to field all members of their 15-player squads.
Schedule highlights
Unlike previous editions, teams now have the option to play up to two warm-up matches based on their arrival time.
Afghanistan will participate in two warm-up game, set for May 29 against Oman and May 31 against Scotland. Meanwhile, Pakistan and England will not engage in any warm-up fixtures as they will be engaging in a bilateral T20I series, which concludes on May 30.
The Afghanistan national cricket team departed Kabul on Thursday for the UAE to begin their T20 World Cup journey, which will be hosted by the U.S.
Afghanistan Cricket Board said some players participating in the IPL will join the team in the UAE.
It added that those whose IPL matches are still ongoing will join their teammates in the West Indies.
T20 World Cup Warm-up fixtures
Monday, May 27
- Canada vs. Nepal, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
- Oman vs. Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
- Namibia vs. Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
Tuesday, May 28
- Sri Lanka vs. Netherlands, Broward County Stadium, Florida
- Bangladesh vs. USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
- Australia vs. Namibia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Wednesday, May 29
- South Africa intra-squad, Broward County Stadium, Florida
- Afghanistan vs. Oman, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Thursday, May 30
- Nepal vs. USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
- Scotland vs. Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
- Netherlands vs. Canada, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
- Namibia vs. Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
- West Indies vs. Australia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Friday, May 31
- Ireland vs. Sri Lanka, Broward County Stadium, Florida
- Scotland vs. Afghanistan, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
- Saturday, June 1
- Bangladesh vs. India, Venue TBC, USA
Japan, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan have secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 after strong performances at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.
The three Asian sides join hosts Qatar as confirmed representatives from the Asian Football Confederation for the expanded 48-team tournament later this year.
Japan booked their place after defeating Qatar and then beating China 2-1 in Group B. Anthony Motosuna and Maki Kitahara scored the goals that sealed a second straight victory and guaranteed qualification.
Saudi Arabia also advanced from Group A after a 2-0 win over Thailand. Marwan Al Yami opened the scoring early before Hassan Al Okrush added a late second goal, giving the Saudis six points from two matches following their opening win against Myanmar.
Tajikistan joined them after edging Myanmar 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Asadbek Makhtumov. The victory followed Tajikistan’s opening 2-0 win over Thailand and secured their place in Qatar 2026.
More teams could qualify on Sunday as the second round of matches in Groups C and D continues, with the final group-stage fixtures set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A delegation from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has traveled to China following an official invitation from the Chinese government, in a move aimed at strengthening sports diplomacy and expanding technical cooperation in cricket between the two countries.
The delegation includes national coach Nawroz Mangal and players Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Faisal Shinozada, and Wahidullah Zadran.
Before their departure, ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan met with the delegation, reaffirming the board’s commitment to developing and globalizing Afghan cricket. He also referenced previous international engagement efforts, including a memorandum of understanding signed with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation focused on cricket development and technical collaboration.
Naseeb Khan highlighted existing economic and industrial ties between Afghanistan and China, expressing optimism that sports cooperation—particularly in cricket—could further strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized that knowledge-sharing, technical exchange, and joint development initiatives would support the growth of the sport in both countries.
During their visit, the Afghan delegation is expected to hold discussions on cricket development, community engagement, and the role of sport in society. The program also includes participation in workshops, attendance at a cricket match organized by Chinese cricket authorities, and visits to sports technology and innovation exhibitions.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has increasingly pursued regional partnerships in recent years. Last year, it signed a cooperation agreement with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation covering technical exchange, capacity building, development programs, and educational workshops aimed at expanding cricket infrastructure and expertise in the region.
The United States is set to welcome the world with a major opening ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as Los Angeles prepares to host a star-powered celebration marking the start of the tournament across North America.
FIFA announced that global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, June 12.
The event will officially launch what FIFA described as a “historic summer of football” across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Organizers said the ceremony will combine football, music and entertainment in a large-scale production designed to reflect the cultural diversity and global appeal of the tournament.
Gianni Infantino said the ceremony in Los Angeles would showcase the scale and ambition of the 2026 World Cup, adding that the lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the power of music to unite people.
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, three opening ceremonies will take place across the three host nations. Mexico City will host the first ceremony on June 11, followed by celebrations in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.
The opening match in the United States will see the U.S. national team face Paraguay. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a record 104 matches across 16 host cities, beginning on June 11 in Mexico City and ending with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow all the action live on the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. ATN will broadcast matches live on Ariana Television, providing full coverage of the world’s biggest football event for Afghan viewers.
Fans are also encouraged to stay connected with Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, including match schedules, team news, and other FIFA World Cup 2026 developments as the tournament draws closer.
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