Cricket Australia Set To Confirm The Rescheduled Test With Afghanistan
Published - 23 Mar 2021, 01:57 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:42 AM
Cricket Australia (CA) will soon confirm the itinerary of the Test match against Afghanistan which will take place later this year after being postponed from its original date of December last year due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The CA now is confident of hosting Afghanistan, who made its maiden appearance in the Test arena in 2018, in November this year; the match which was supposed to be played in Perth last year is likely to be shifted to Hobart.
The sole test against Afghanistan would also serve to be a decent preparation for Tim Paine’s side before the Ashes series against England at home. Since Australia pulled out of their tour to South Africa, due to covid concerns, they don’t have any Test series confirmed till the Ashes.
According to The Sunday Age, CA is also looking to host Ireland, who became a Test-playing member in 2017, next year. However, nothing regarding the Ireland Test is official. Australia last played against the Irish in 2016.
The Test in Perth was huge for Afghanistan: Rashid Khan
Meanwhile, superstar leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, lamented the fact that Afghanistan missed out on the previously scheduled Test match against Australia in Perth last year. Rashid, who has 34 wickets in 5 Tests, says that the Australia Test was a huge occasion for cricket in Afghanistan as the team plays the longest format not often – in 3 years they have played only 6 Tests.
“Just imagine, if a youngster is playing a Test against a bigger team, only then he will realise what he needs to do and where he needs to improve.
“The Test in Perth was huge for us, and everyone back home was waiting for it. It could have been a historic Test. It is like a dream that comes true for any player to be a part of it. I would have considered myself so lucky to play in Australia against Australia, but this pandemic has really affected us,” the 22-year-old leg-spinner added.
