Afghanistan set to play their maiden Test against India in June
Afghanistan is set to play their maiden Test against India at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru from 14th to 18th June this year. The decision was made by the two respective boards (BCCI and ACB) on 16th January.
In 2017, International Cricket Council (ICC) granted full-member status for Ireland and Afghanistan to join the league of nine cricketing playing nations. Afghanistan will play India in India while Pakistan is set to play Ireland in Ireland in May. A country ravaged by war has achieved a lot in the world of cricket since gaining prominence in 2011. Afghanistan did qualify for the 2015 World Cup played in New Zealand and Australia. They have been a competitive associate side and managed to beat West Indies in ICC World T20 played in India in 2016. They also produced a phenomenal 10-game winning streak that was from March 2016 to March 2017.
BCCI Interim Secretary Amitabh Choudhary said that India has long cordial relations with Afghanistan and also felt it necessary to host their maiden Test match. Choudhary also said that Bengaluru was selected as an ideal venue as other parts of the ground will experience seasonal rains or will be hot in the month of June. He said that we expect a good crowd for the game and is what BCCI did for South Africa in their re-admission to the international game in 1991.
ACB Chief Executive Officer Ashfaq Stanikzai said that they are grateful that BCCI has made a great gesture for Afghanistan to play their maiden Test. He said that India must be lauded to schedule the one-off game in wake of their busy schedule and expects a lot of fans from Afghanistan to watch the game.
Stanikzai said that Afghanistan Cricket Board started their first-class competition in 2017. The country has been consistent performers in the ICC Intercontinental competitions and making concerted efforts to make we stage international games at home in the future.
