Afghanistan set to play one-off Test against Australia from December 7 to 11

The Afghanistan cricket team is likely to play its first-ever Test match against Australia from December 7 to 11 in Perth. Cricket Australia and Afghanistan Cricket Board are at the final stage of negotiations regarding the logistics of the match and an official announcement can be expected soon.

The one-off Test will not be counted as a part of the ICC World Test Championship as only top nine teams namely India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh are a part of the tournament and it doesn’t include three Full Members; Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

According to the Future Tour Program, Afghanistan was initially expected to play one Test match against the Kangaroos from November 21 to 25. However, in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many tours, and bilateral series were adjusted. Also, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to host the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League from September 19 to November 10 in UAE.

We have requested them to play a normal Test: Nazim Zar

Afghanistan has played four Tests since 2017 wherein they lost to India and West Indies but registered impressive victories against Ireland and Bangladesh. Confirming the schedule of touring Australia in December, Afghanistan Cricket Board’s interim chief executive Nazim Zar Abdulrahimzai said on Thursday (August 27) that the team will follow all the quarantine protocols and is hoping that CA agrees for a Test for a day game instead of it being played under lights.

“We are going to play the one-off Test series against Australia in December. We have requested them to play a normal Test match instead of the day-night Test match, as we have not played a D/N Test earlier. Our camp will be based in UAE ahead of the Australia tour, where we are expected to play a practice game before the lone Test,” Nazir said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s newly-appointed director of cricket Raees Ahmadzai added, “We will be forming the team for a good match against Australia. After Saturday [August 29], we will be in a good position to know [about whether it would be a D/N Test or not].”

The scheduling of the Afghanistan Test is an indication that the India tour of Australia which was originally slated to begin from December 3 with a Test match in Brisbane is likely to get postponed.