While Afghanistan are ready to face New Zealand in the only Test match in India, the Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi opened up their focus in Test cricket.

Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground is ready to make its Test debut as Afghanistan and New Zealand will face each other in the only Test from September 9. It will be their first-ever Test meeting. 

While India is the home venue for Afghanistan, the Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi wants a good Test venue in India that can be more effective for them. 

On the eve of their first-ever Test against New Zealand, Shahidi said, "If you see, India is our home and when we host teams, the other nations have played more cricket than us here. So hopefully we will get one good venue here in India and we stick with that. If we stick with one venue, it will be more effective for us.”

SEE ALSO: Afghanistan reveal 16-member squad for New Zealand Test

Hopefully that time comes in future that teams come to Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi

Shahidi is also hopeful to see foreign countries touring Afghanistan in the future. 

The Afghan captain added, "And one more thing, if you see our players, they have good record in first-class cricket because we play in our own grounds [in Afghanistan]. We know our own conditions very well. So hopefully that time comes in future that teams come to Afghanistan. Then our average will be even higher than what it is right now and hopefully our cricket board and BCCI give a good venue for us in India and we play a lot of cricket in one venue."

If we get a lot more chances with the good teams, we will improve: Afghan captain

Since their Test debut in 2018 against India, Afghanistan have played nine Tests. Apart from playing one Test each against India, Sri Lanka, and West Indies, Afghanistan have also played two Tests against Bangladesh, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. They have won one Test match each against Bangladesh, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. 

Shahidi wants more Tests against good teams to improve their Test cricket status. He is happy to compete against New Zealand. 

Shahidi said, "In six years, nine games is not, I cannot say it's a lot. If we get a lot more chances with the good teams, we will improve, and our cricket board is doing that job. Like with New Zealand, if you see their history of Test cricket and where they are in the rankings right now, it's a good opportunity for us and hopefully our cricket board will try harder to give us opportunities against good teams in the future. I think if we get more chances on regular basis, we will improve a lot because if we see as a team and as a country, we are brave people and we always accept challenges.”

Instead of a one-off Test or a two-match Test series, Shahid believes a three-match or four-match Test series will help them to become a better Test team. 

The Afghan skipper added, "If we get three- or four-match series in one time, I think it will be very good for us as a side. If you look at our past, we get one Test match and we start preparing for that ten days before. So it's not easy to come to red-ball cricket. Playing matches will make us even better on judging the ball and playing good cricket in red-ball format, compared to playing in the nets. So if we play three-four games back to back I think it will be better."

About Test cricket, 100% we want to improve: Hashmatullah Shahidi

Afghanistan is growing as a strong challenging team. During the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, they beat England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and were very close to beating Australia.

In the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States, Afghanistan beat New Zealand in the group stage, and also defeated Bangladesh and Australia in the Super 8 stage to qualify for the semi-finals. 

With the white-ball successes, Shahidi is also focussing on improving in Test cricket. 

Shahidi said, "About Test cricket, 100% we want to improve. We want to show to the world our best format is Test cricket. And I mentioned before that we accept all kinds of challenges, and I am telling the boys also that these opportunities are very big opportunities for us, each and every one to show our skill, to show our talent and make… if I am a batsman, make a big score, big runs. So your name will be among the big names in the future. So if you want that, this is the place and time to show. I think we have that ability to do it and need to show it."

Before the beginning of the Greater Noida Test, there is a major concern about a challenging weather forecast as the Test match can be disrupted by rains and moderate thunderstorms. 

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the 16-member squad for the only Test against New Zealand in India. Three uncapped players have been included in the Afghanistan squad. 

The Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test will be played at Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida, from September 9. It will be a five-day Test match.

Opener Riaz Hassan, allrounder Shams Ur Rahman, and fast bowler Khalil Ahmed are the new Afghan faces in the 16-member Afghanistan squad. Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the Test team.

As injured Rashid Khan is absent, Zahir Khan and Zia-ur-Rehman will handle the Afghan spin bowling attack. 

SEE ALSO: Salt to lead England in Australia T20Is in absence of Buttler

Four Afghanistan players are excluded from the 20-member preliminary squad

Among the 20-member preliminary squad, which was announced last month, fast bowler Naveed Zadran, experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmed, and uncapped 17-year-old Yama Arab have been excluded in the final 16-member squad. 

The 19-year-old Naveed Zadran has played two Tests, where he took nine wickets. He has been ruled out of the New Zealand Test due to a side strain. He is expected to be in a better position for the ODI series against South Africa in the UAE. The three-match ODI series will begin on September 18. 

The 33-year-old Gulbadin Naib, who has played 82 ODIs and 73 T20Is, is yet to make his Test debut. The same status goes for the 30-year-old left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmed, who has played 17 ODIs and 30 T20Is.  

First-ever Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test match

It will be the first Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand. Out of their nine Tests, Afghanistan won three and lost six. They have beaten Ireland, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe once each. 

However, the Afghanistan national cricket team is becoming stronger with growing experiences. Recently, they reached the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where they also beat New Zealand in the group stage. 

Afghanistan 16-member squad for the one-off Test against New Zealand in India

Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shams Ur Rahman, Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, Nijat Masood