Sri Lanka have indefinitely postponed a six-match white-ball series against Afghanistan that was due to start in the UAE this week.

The teams were scheduled to play three T20Is in Sharjah on 13, 15 and 17 March, and three ODIs in Dubai on 20, 22 and 25 March.

“We had to cancel because of the flight situation … and the ongoing fighting in the region,” a Sri Lanka Cricket official said.

It would have been the first time that Afghanistan had hosted Sri Lanka for a bilateral series.

The series would have preceded the start of former Proteas batsman Gary Kirsten taking over as  Sri Lanka coach.

Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Monday that Kirsten would begin a two-year contract on 15 April.

MORE: Kirsten appointed Sri Lanka coach

Fighting has spread across the Middle East since the USA and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, with Tehran launching retaliatory strikes.

The conflict has disrupted flights across the region, including in Dubai, where the airport was briefly closed on Saturday as Iran fired drones and missiles at targets across the Gulf.

War-ravaged Afghanistan has never hosted an international cricket match, instead having to play its home fixtures in India or the UAE.

– AFP

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