Sony bags TV rights for Afghanistan T20Is; ACB urged to hold one match on Ganesh Chaturthi

Sony Sports Network has bagged the television rights for India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The ITW Universe, which held the global rights of the matches, have allotted the property to Sony after deliberations with other players in the field: JioStar and Zee Unite8.

A top official of the ITW Universe confirmed to Cricbuzz of the decision. The digital rights of the matches are with FanCode.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the host of the three matches to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally approved the schedule.

Request to adjust the schedule

Meanwhile, requests have gone to Naseeb Khan, the CEO of Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), to adjust the games so that one match can be played on September 14, the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Cricbuzz had reported about this on August 11.

“As a media rights and production partner deeply invested in the success of this series, ITW Universe respectfully requests the ACB to consider a modest but meaningful adjustment to the current schedule so that one of the three matches falls on Monday, 14 September 2026 — Ganesh Chaturthi,” ITW founder Bhairav Shanth said in a letter to ACB CEO Naseeb Khan.

He has said ITW’s preferred days of the matches are Friday (September 11), Sunday (September 13) and Monday (September 14 - Ganesh Chaturthi). The alternative dates, he said, are September 13, September 14, and either September 16 or 17 September. “Both options preserve a tight three-match window and require only a modest shift from the currently confirmed dates,” he wrote in his letter.

“Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely observed and emotionally significant festivals in India — a day of new beginnings, devotion and collective celebration. By offering to stage a match on this date, the Afghanistan Cricket Board would be making a thoughtful and gracious gesture that goes beyond the playing field.

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