Afghanistan are ready for Test cricket
According to Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Shafiq Stanikzai, the Asian nation are ready to make the step up to Test cricket sooner rather than later.
The ACB CEO has voiced his support for a two-tier Test cricket system that would likely see, Ireland and Afghanistan join the existing Test playing nations.
Stanikzai told ESPNcricinfo in a recent interview: “We think that we are ready to play Test cricket and we have proven that.
“Since we entered into the Intercontinental Cup arena, we were beaten only once. That was in the [2013] Intercontinental Cup final where we got beaten by Ireland but that’s the only loss we have in a four-day game or multi-day game.”
Afghanistan are second on the 2015-17 Intercontinental Cup table after four rounds behind Ireland after three wins and a rain hit draw with Scotland. The team have shown an excellent pedigree in the four-day competition and they are determined to show they can succeed in the game’s longest format.
Stanikzai continued: “We have a real good package for every single format of the game.
“If you have a look at the Afghanistan cricket team, we have almost a different squad for every single format. We have T20 specialists, we have ODI specialists, we have multi-day players, specialists not just in batting but in bowling as well. So we are carrying a different bunch of players in every single format we are playing.”
Afghanistan have specialized well and this is evidenced by the absence of ODI regulars Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran and Rashid Khan, batsmen Noor Ali Zadran, Javed Ahmadi, Najibullah Zadran and Gulbadin Naib from the recent four-day team.
Stanikzai continued: “It means the talent is huge in Afghanistan and things have shaped up quite nicely and we have improved quite rapidly in the cricketing world.
“Afghanistan is a team that is ready to play Test cricket. We are just looking forward for this [two-tier] proposal to get passed by the ICC board. My stance and Afghanistan Cricket Board’s stance is quite clear that we need more opportunities.”
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.