Afghanistan President, Ashraf Ghani wants Afghanistan cricket team to play more matches as their historic match against India has begun on June 14. ICC has awarded Afghanistan cricket with their Test status sometime last year. Now the team has become 12th test-playing nation after being recognised by ICC in 2001. Top officials from Afghanistan are currently present at the Chinnaswamy as Afganistan is playing India currently.  

India won the toss and opted to bat first with both the openers of home team scoring hundred. The middle order now is building on the good start provided by the openers. 

“This is yet another poignant example of the everlasting friendship between India and Afghanistan,” Ghani said in a statement.

“We also request other test cricketing nations to arrange regular series with Afghanistan.”

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi also hopes after this one-off Test, it could bring both the nations closer together. The Sports Minister of India, Rajyavardhan Rathore shook hands with Afghan players to show a mark of respect before the start of the historic Test.

“The historic friendship and relations between India and Afghanistan go back to centuries. I’m glad that cricket is now added as another layer,” Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Atif Mashal said in January, when the date and venue of the match were announced.

“This match is a result of immense goodwill and solidarity between the two countries,” one senior diplomat said.

“We are lucky that some of our best players are getting a chance to live in India and represent our nation,” said an official with the Afghan Cricket Board.

(Inputs from Reuters)