Afghanistan to travel to India for first ever Test match

(Photo: Getty Images)

By Adam Ellis

Afghanistan will face India in their first Test since joining the ranks of ICC Test-playing nations and will have their date confirmed when final negotiations between the BCCI and ACB conclude.

Six months after the rapid rise of Afghanistan and Ireland saw the two countries bestowed by the ICC with Test status, India have moved to include the Test newcomers in their schedule for 2018.

“Afghans were scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 versus Australia but considering the historic relationship between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first Test,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudary revealed, after chairing a special general meeting.

While Ireland will play Pakistan on home soil to mark their moment in history, Afghanistan had been inked in to play Steve Smith’s side in their adopted home of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, or Greater Noida, near Delhi, in their first Test. But with these new developments Afghanistan could face two of Test cricket‘s most prominent challenges inside a 12 month window.

“We are in the final stage of discussions, it will be in the UAE, and if the tour goes ahead our first choice will be to play at Sharjah,” said ACB chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai back in August.

India will tour South Africa and England in 2018 looking to cement their position at the top of the ICC Test rankings.

@ACBofficials and @BCCI have agreed that Afghanistan will play its first test match against India. The exact date and venue of the historic match will be shared in a joint press conference with @BCCI in due course.

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) December 11, 2017