England and Australia headline Afghan Test schedule
Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Shafiq Stanikzai has revealed that the newest Test nation will enjoy a busy Test programme in the next FTP cycle.
The Future Tours Programme for 2019-2023 was confirmed at an ICC board meeting in Kolkata last week.
Stanikzai said: “We are playing 14-18 Tests in the new FTP cycle. We will be playing against England, Australia, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Bangladesh.
“These series does not come under the Test Championship, these will be all bilateral series – home and away.”
Afghanistan will meet Australia before their Test engagement when they clash at next year’s Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The team’s skipper Asghar Stanikzai says that the only previous meeting between the sides at the 2015 World Cup will have little impact on their upcoming fixtures.
Asghar said: “That was a match which taught us plenty of cricket lessons. And as recent results show, we have learnt from that match and only got better since that tournament.
“I am getting goosebumps thinking about playing Australia in our World Cup opener in England.
“For most of us, it is like a dream but the reality is we have worked extremely hard for this and have been rewarded with the opportunity of not only playing against Australia but all the big nations who have done so very well in international cricket over the past years.
“The match against Australia provides us the chance to make a strong start in the tournament of the best versus the best, and ensure people take serious note of us.”
Latest
-
NewsJoe Root wants England to free themselves from fear in fourth Test against India
The tourists will be hoping to level the series at 2-2 when they start the final match in Ahmedabad.
-
NewsZak Crawley vows England will be more proactive in battle against India’s spin
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel have run riot in helpful conditions.
-
NewsDale Steyn heaps praise on Pakistan trio, prefers PSL over IPL
Record South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is full of praise for Pakistan players Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Babar Azam.
-
NewsChris Gayle sets sights on third T20 World Cup title
West Indies veteran Chris Gayle has set his sights on winning a third T20 World Cup when he makes his return to international cricket.
-
NewsCricket in line to receive significant chunk of £300m sports recovery package
The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the support, describing it as “a lifeline for parts of the game”.
-
NewsMarcus Trescothick relishing return to ‘special environment’ with England
Trescothick is England’s new batting coach.
-
NewsJack Leach feels here to stay after establishing himself as top England spinner
Leach made his debut almost three years ago in New Zealand but had made only 10 appearances before the turn of the year.
-
NewsKevin O’Brien says century against England helped Ireland ‘reach for the stars’
O’Brien hit a 50-ball 113 as Ireland chased down a target of 328 in the 2011 World Cup.
-
NewsIan Harvey is Gloucestershire interim coach after Richard Dawson joins England
Dawson has accepted the position of ECB elite pathway coach
-
NewsMarcus Trescothick, Jon Lewis and Jeetan Patel join England’s coaching staff
Trescothick has left his assistant’s role at Somerset.