New Delhi: Afghanistan are set to square off with New Zealand in a one-off Test match that will be played in Greater Noida in September. This would be the very first time that the two teams will face each other in red-ball cricket. The match would be Afghanistan’s 10th Test overall and their ongoing year, which is the most they would have played in a year.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the game will be held at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which has previously served as Afghanistan’s adopted home ground, as granted by the BCCI. It will be hosted likely from September 9 to 13 which is approximately one month before New Zealand’s tour of India for a three-match Test series. The Afghanistan Test would be a good warm-up for the Kiwis for the big tour that follows, starting on October 16 in Bengaluru.
The report also added that New Zealand will also get a window in the middle of both where they tour Sri Lanka for a Test series, the dates of which are yet to be announced. With New Zealand confirmed to play the Test, the remaining nations yet to play a Test with Afghanistan will be – England, Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Australia relations & Test record
The Aussies had withdrawn from hosting them in a Test in 2021 citing violations of human rights in Afghanistan and had also pulled out of a three-match T20I series scheduled for August this year on the same grounds.
The two Test matches that Afghanistan have played in 2024 came against Sri Lanka and Ireland, both of whom handed them defeats. They were also downed by Bangladesh last year in the one-off Test and their last win in the longest format came in March 2021, when they defeated Zimbabwe in the UAE. In the nine Tests that Afghanistan have played so far, their win-loss record stands at 3-6.
As per a report, Afghanistan will host New Zealand for a one-off Test match at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in September this year. It would be their first and historic meeting in the longest format. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
