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NEW DELHI: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi made an appeal on Sunday for an increase in the number of Test matches scheduled for his team. He also requested a dedicated home ground in India to facilitate better training and help the team gain a competitive advantage against their rivals.
Due to persistent security concerns, Afghanistan is unable to host matches in their own country.As a result, they have been playing at three different venues in India, namely Greater Noida, Lucknow, and Dehradun, as well as in the UAE.
“India is our home, and when we host teams, other nations have played more cricket here,” Shahidi said, as quoted by PTI, on the eve of the one-off Test against New Zealand.
“Hopefully, we will get a good venue here in India and if we restrict ourselves to one venue, it will be effective for us. Hopefully, the ACB and the BCCI will get us a good venue.”
“If you see our records in first-class, it’s good because we play at our home ground. We know those conditions. Hopefully, in the future, there will be a time when the teams will travel to Afghanistan and our average will be higher,” he added.
Since being granted Test status in 2017, Afghanistan has emerged as a formidable opponent in limited-overs cricket. However, their experience in the longest format of the game remains limited, having played only nine Test matches. Most of these encounters have been standalone games, rather than part of a series.
“In six years, nine games is not more. We are new in this format. We need more experience. If we get more chances on a regular basis, we will improve a lot.
“It’s in the hands of the ACB and ICC. When it comes to Test cricket, some players are different from those who play in the leagues.”
Shahidi, who holds a Test double century, believes that an extended run of red-ball fixtures will aid the Afghan team in refining their skills in the format.
“If we get three-four match series at a stretch, it will be helpful for us as a side. If you look at our past, we would prepare only 10 days ahead of a Test match.
“It’s not easy to come to red-ball cricket, by just playing in the nets. Only if you play matches, will you get better at judging the ball.”
The match against New Zealand is historic, marking the first time these two sides will face each other in the longest format of the game.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to play against New Zealand, given their rankings. Hopefully, the ACB will try harder to give us opportunities against bigger teams in the future.”
Their inexperience cost them a historic victory against Sri Lanka earlier this year, and Shahidi believes it could be a disadvantage against a highly experienced team like New Zealand.
“It will be a lack of experience, but when it comes to taking challenges, we are a nation that does not take a step backward.
“We have talented players and we can do well in every department – some of our players have hundreds in this format. It’s tough, but if we play to our strength, we can beat any team,” he said.
Due to persistent security concerns, Afghanistan is unable to host matches in their own country.As a result, they have been playing at three different venues in India, namely Greater Noida, Lucknow, and Dehradun, as well as in the UAE.
“India is our home, and when we host teams, other nations have played more cricket here,” Shahidi said, as quoted by PTI, on the eve of the one-off Test against New Zealand.
“Hopefully, we will get a good venue here in India and if we restrict ourselves to one venue, it will be effective for us. Hopefully, the ACB and the BCCI will get us a good venue.”
“If you see our records in first-class, it’s good because we play at our home ground. We know those conditions. Hopefully, in the future, there will be a time when the teams will travel to Afghanistan and our average will be higher,” he added.
Since being granted Test status in 2017, Afghanistan has emerged as a formidable opponent in limited-overs cricket. However, their experience in the longest format of the game remains limited, having played only nine Test matches. Most of these encounters have been standalone games, rather than part of a series.
“In six years, nine games is not more. We are new in this format. We need more experience. If we get more chances on a regular basis, we will improve a lot.
“It’s in the hands of the ACB and ICC. When it comes to Test cricket, some players are different from those who play in the leagues.”
Shahidi, who holds a Test double century, believes that an extended run of red-ball fixtures will aid the Afghan team in refining their skills in the format.
“If we get three-four match series at a stretch, it will be helpful for us as a side. If you look at our past, we would prepare only 10 days ahead of a Test match.
“It’s not easy to come to red-ball cricket, by just playing in the nets. Only if you play matches, will you get better at judging the ball.”
The match against New Zealand is historic, marking the first time these two sides will face each other in the longest format of the game.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to play against New Zealand, given their rankings. Hopefully, the ACB will try harder to give us opportunities against bigger teams in the future.”
Their inexperience cost them a historic victory against Sri Lanka earlier this year, and Shahidi believes it could be a disadvantage against a highly experienced team like New Zealand.
“It will be a lack of experience, but when it comes to taking challenges, we are a nation that does not take a step backward.
“We have talented players and we can do well in every department – some of our players have hundreds in this format. It’s tough, but if we play to our strength, we can beat any team,” he said.
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