India is currently playing Afghanistan, the 12th team to make debut in Test cricket, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In June 2017, Afghanistan along with Ireland, who already played their maiden Test against Pakistan last month, were granted Test status by the International Cricket Council.
On the eve of the historic day, David Richardson, the Chief Executive (CEO) of the ICC, sent positive vibes for the Afghan players on their maiden appearance in whites.
“On behalf of everyone at the ICC, I would like to wish Afghanistan all the very best for their first Test,” Richardson quoted as saying by the ICC.
“We have seen recently in Ireland the sense of excitement and anticipation a country’s debut in the longest format of our game can bring and this will be no different. I am looking forward to watching this entertaining young Afghanistan team take on the ultimate test,” he added.
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson: On behalf of everyone at the ICC, I would like to wish Afghanistan all the very best for their first Test. pic.twitter.com/WUhzhridfl
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) June 13, 2018
We have seen recently in Ireland the sense of excitement and anticipation a country’s debut in the longest format of our game can bring and this will be no different. I am looking forward to watching this entertaining young Afghanistan team take on the ultimate test.
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) June 13, 2018
It will be India’s 522nd Test match. But as any other experienced international side, Afghanistan will be no pushovers in this game, as they have proved in their recent run in international cricket.
In their last 11 one-day international series, bilateral or multilateral, Afghanistan have won seven while two have been drawn. The teams that Afghanistan beat included Test-playing nations like West Indies and Bangladesh. In fact, Afghanistan recently whitewashed Bangladesh in a three-match Twenty20 series at Dehradun.
