One-off Test Against Afghanistan is Wrongly Scheduled, Says Dilip Vengsarkar

At a time when there’s a raging debate over whether India skipper Virat Kohli‘s participation in the Test against Afghanistan, former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar has added another twist to the argument.

Meanwhile, there is a raised speculation over Kohli missing the Test which has left the Board of Control for Cricket in India officials in a split.

Kohli has decided to feature in County Cricket for Surrey Cricket Club -to prepare for the gruelling England series.

India will play three-match One-day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals series followed by a five-match Test series.

Kohli, who had a torrid time in England the last time Team India toured, is eager to change the statistics.

Moreover, the limited-overs series prior to the Test matches will help the players acclimatise to the alien condition. Kohli is desperate to do well in England and prove their mettle as a top-ranked ICC Test team.

Vengsarkar questions the logic of the schedule

The former chairman of selectors Vengsarkar questioned BCCI’s very logic of hosting Test cricket’s latest debutants ahead of the England tour.

“To be honest with you, I feel that the Afghanistan Test is wrongly scheduled because they (the BCCI) should’ve concentrated more on the England tour. (I know that) The Indian A team is going (to England). Of course, there is an FTP, there is a Test programme, and you’ve to adhere to it. But then, this is a Test match. You can’t take it lightly. This is Afghanistan’s first match, and they must be very keen to establish themselves at the international level,” ToI quoted Vengsarkar.

In conclusion, he backed Kohli’s decision to play County ahead of the England series.

Concluding, Dilip Vengsarkar also questioned the logicality of bringing back Cheteshwar Pujara from England for the Afghanistan series.

Also read: Virat Kohli disturbed by the constant public scrutiny of his personal life