The promo was shared by the ACB on its official X account on Sunday, days before the three-match India-Afghanistan series in New Delhi.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has raised concerns over the map depiction with the Pakistan Foreign Office. The exact nature of the concerns conveyed by the PCB was not immediately known.
The source further stated that Islamabad could consider raising the issue at an international level, although no formal move has been announced so far.
The development comes at a time of sharply strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad, with the two sides locked in disputes over border and security issues.
The latest controversy comes amid escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including border clashes and airstrikes. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of providing shelter to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan blames for deadly attacks inside the country.
Top Indian intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that such friction can increasingly play out through soft power, including cultural and sporting platforms.
According to the sources, the map depiction could be seen as a diplomatic signal from Kabul, indicating its independent foreign policy and willingness to engage with India without accommodating Pakistan’s regional sensitivities.
“Utilising its own branding to bypass Pakistan’s regional sensitivities signals Kabul’s intent to maintain an independent foreign posture in sports diplomacy,” the source said.
The ACB shared the promo with a message highlighting the significance of the upcoming series.
“A series that will once again bring together two nations,” it said, describing the matches as encounters between two nations with “deep-rooted history, culture, and a shared passion” for cricket.
“These are more than just matches. They are encounters of passion, excitement, and significance, where AfghanAtalan will take the field, carrying the hopes and pride of millions back home,” the ACB wrote in its post.
The series between Afghanistan and India will be played on September 13, 15 and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.
The map controversy has added a diplomatic dimension to an upcoming cricket series, as tensions between Kabul and Islamabad continue to shape the wider regional context.
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