DUBAI (PPI): India will host Afghanistan in the latter’s first ever Test match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said on Monday (December 11) after a Special General Body Meeting in New Delhi.
The dates and venue for the Test match will be decided later. “Afghanistan was scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 against Australia but considering the historic relationship between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first Test,” said Amitabh Choudhary, the BCCI’s acting secretary.
Atif Mashal, the chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, confirmed the development on Twitter. “@ACBofficials and @BCCI have agreed that Afghanistan will play its first Test against India. The exact date and venue of the match will be shared in a joint press conference in due course. I personally thank BCCI board for the decision.”
Rahul Johri, the chief executive of the BCCI, welcomed Afghanistan to the Test fold. “India to play inaugural Test against Afghanistan. Welcome them to five-day cricket,” he tweeted.
Ireland and Afghanistan were both conferred Test status after a unanimous vote to that effect by the full member boards of the International Cricket Council in June during the annual conference in London. Ireland are due to make their Test debut at home in May 2018, against Pakistan.
