Template:Infobox cricket tour
The Afghanistan cricket team toured India in June 2018 to play a one-off Test match against the India cricket team.[1][2] It was Afghanistan's first Test since they were awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June 2017.[3] India won the match in two days by an innings and 262 runs.[4] Afghanistan were dismissed twice in the same day, only the fourth time this has happened in Tests.[5] It was India's biggest win by an innings in Tests,[6] and they became the first Asian team to win a Test match inside two days.[7]
After the match, India's captain Ajinkya Rahane said that it is just the beginning for Afghanistan, and playing more Tests and first-class cricket would improve the side.[8] Phil Simmons, Afghanistan's coach, said that the team were "by no means happy' with their performance", but believes they will get there with further hard work.[9]
Background
In late 2017, it was announced that Zimbabwe would be Afghanistan's first Test opponents, but the tour was confirmed as being limited overs matches only.[10] In December 2017, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that the match would take place in 2018, with the exact date and venue to be announced at a later date.[11] In January 2018, both the ACB and the BCCI confirmed the Test would be played in June at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.[12][13] It was the first time a Test match was played in June in India.[14][15]
Squads
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India's captain Virat Kohli announced that he would miss this Test match as he elected to play for Surrey County Cricket Club.[18] This was in preparation for India's tour to England the following month.[19][20] However, a neck injury ruled him out of playing for Surrey in England.[21] Ajinkya Rahane was named as India's captain for the Test match in Kohli's absence.[22]
Prior to the final squad selection, Afghanistan had a team of thirty players warming up for the match in Greater Noida.[23] On 29 May 2018, the ACB announced a sixteen-man squad for the Test match, with Asghar Stanikzai named as the captain.[24] Afghan bowler Rashid Khan said that "it will be a big day for cricket in Afghanistan" and he could not wait to become a Test cricketer.[23] He later added that the match will be "a test of patience" and that he might end up taking no wickets.[25]
Ahead of the Test, Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out of India's squad due to injury, and was replaced by Dinesh Karthik.[26] Mohammed Shami was also ruled out of India's squad after failing a fitness test, being replaced by Navdeep Saini.[27]
Before the Test, both captains commented on the significance of the fixture. Asghar Stanikzai, Afghanistan's captain, said that "to be playing our first Test against India is a great honour and we hope to give a good account of ourselves".[28] India's captain, Ajinkya Rahane, said "it's a privilege to be playing in Afghanistan's first Test match" adding that it will be an historic moment for the Afghan team.[28]
Test series
Only Test
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Notes
- ↑ Afghanistan to make Test debut against India. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ Afghanistan to face India in first Test. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ↑ Ireland & Afghanistan awarded Test status by International Cricket Council. BBC News(22 June 2017). Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ↑ Afghanistan's debut Test ends in two-day thrashing. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ↑ Back-to-back Afghanistan collapses hand India two-day win. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ↑ India vs Afghanistan, Only Test, Day 2 – Statistical Highlights. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ↑ Afghanistan's debut Test ends in two-day thrashing. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ↑ 'This is just the beginning for Afghanistan' – Ajinkya Rahane. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ↑ Afghanistan 'by no means happy' with their performance. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ↑ Streak urges more elite cricket for Zimbabwe. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ↑ Afghanistan to make Test debut in India. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ↑ Historic India-Afghanistan Test from June 14 in Bengaluru. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ↑ India, Afghanistan Test in June. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ↑ Afghanistan's Test debut set for June in Bengaluru. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ↑ Afghanistan to play debut Test v India in Bengaluru in June. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ↑ Rahane to lead India against Afghanistan in Kohli's absence. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ↑ Afghanistan pick four spinners for inaugural Test. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ↑ Kohli to warm-up for India's tour of England with spell at Surrey. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ↑ Virat Kohli to miss Afghanistan Test in favour of county cricket for Surrey: Report. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ↑ Kohli to play county cricket as preparation for England Tests. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ↑ Kohli ruled out of Surrey stint with neck injury. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ↑ Ajinkya Rahane to lead India in one-off Test against Afghanistan, Virat Kohli to return for Ireland T20s. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 ‘We need to focus on playing good cricket’ – Rashid Khan looks ahead to maiden Test. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ↑ Afghanistan Squads for T20I Bangladesh Series and on-eoff India Test Announced. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ↑ 'It's going to be a test of patience' – Rashid Khan on Test debut. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ↑ Injured Saha out of Afghanistan Test. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
- ↑ Shami out of Afghanistan Test after failing fitness Test. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Afghanistan gear up for momentous first men's Test. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
References
External links
Template:International cricket tours of India Template:International cricket in 2018 Template:2018–19 in Indian cricket