As well as Afghanistan playing home matches in the United Arab Emirates, the team will have access to the country's cutting-edge facilities and have been promised visa assistance.

A three-match men's T20 series between Afghanistan and the UAE is also planned each year of the agreement.

Afghanistan can seldom play at home because of the security situation in the country and the UAE had already been staging Afghanistan's matches on a series-by-series basis.

The Taliban's return to power last year has made a tour by any other national team an even more remote possibility.

However, the ACB has continued to be able to field teams at International Cricket Council (ICC) events, including this year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

Afghanistan play under the old red, green and black national flag, rather than the white one reinstated by the Taliban.

The ACB is a full ICC member, meaning the men's side can play Test cricket.

They are among the most high-profile representatives of Afghanistan in the sporting world.

"Both the Emirates and Afghanistan Cricket Boards enjoy long, cordial relations, and we are happy to support the ACB in ensuring that they have a home for their cricket," Emirates Cricket Board general secretary Mubashshir Usmani said.

"We are also thankful to Afghanistan Cricket Board for agreeing to play T20 internationals against UAE Team each year. 

"This will provide our UAE team with the invaluable exposure and help in their development."

The Emirates Cricket Board has sought partnerships with other countries before, notably the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Last year it held a T20 World Cup on the BCCI's behalf, with India unable to do so because of the COVID-19 crisis.

The ICC is headquartered in the UAE, in Dubai, and the city is also home to the ICC Academy.