Cricket Australia Confident Of Afghanistan Test Going Forward As Scheduled

Afghanistan is scheduled to make their maiden tour to Australia and play in a historic Test match against the Kangaroos later this year. However since the Taliban have captured the country and are in process of forming a government, a spanner has been thrown into the proceedings thus far.

Afghanistan was scheduled to play Australia in a one-off Test match from November 27. However, since the Taliban took control of the nation after the President fled to safety and the USA evacuated its troops, the tour was clouded by uncertainties since August 15.

Afghanistan Cricket Board’s head of media operations, Hikmat Hassan, told Reuters that the Taliban is supportive of cricket and expressed confidence that the team will take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

“The Taliban don’t have any issue or problem with cricket, and they have told us that we can continue our work as planned. We are confident we will be able to take part (in the World Cup) and will be preparing for it over the coming weeks. I don’t think there will be a problem,” Hikmat told Reuters.

Already Afghanistan’s proposed series against Pakistan was postponed which was supposed in Sri Lanka due to travel complications with no international flights allowed in or out from Kabul Airport.

There Is Goodwill Between CA And The Afghanistan Cricket Board To Make The Match Happen: Cricket Australia

However, Cricket Australia is confident of hosting Afghanistan for the historic one-off Test match this year. The CA spokesperson cited the goodwill between the host board and the Afghanistan cricket board to make the match happen.

“Cricket Australia’s planning for the historic first Test match between Australia and Afghanistan in Hobart is well underway. There is goodwill between CA and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make the match happen, which immediately follows the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE in which the Afghanistan team is due to play,” a CA spokesperson said as per cricket.com.au.

“CA will continue to work with the Australian and Tasmanian governments ahead of the Afghanistan team’s arrival planned for later this year,” the spokesperson added.

Afghanistan stars like Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are expected to play in the Big Bash League in Australia later this year.

Also Read: Afghanistan’s Test Match With Australia Will Continue Without Interruption: Taliban