Eight Indian Players to Miss Historic Test Match Against Afghanistan

The Indian team has taken the right lessons from the South African tour. It is reported that the eight Indian players are set to miss the historic Test match against Afghanistan in June. The decision is taken to help these players in preparing well for the pivotal England tour.

The eight expected to skip One-off Test are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan.

Well, it is known that Ishant Sharma and Chesteshwar Pujara are currently plying on their trade in the County season.

This is a good step taken by the CoA.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has also signed up with Surrey to help prepare himself better for the England tour. The above-mentioned eight players will travel with India A team before the senior team’s tour.

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A source confirmed that these players are set to reach England ahead of the schedule to get acclimatized to the English conditions.

“Test specialists are set to travel to the UK for early acclimatization. Everyone has hailed it as good planning on part of the CoA. Isn’t it more important for India to prepare for the Test in England than fielding the maximum firepower against Afghanistan?” a source close to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) said as per the quotes of TOI.

Indian players will travel with India A team.

In addition, Ishant and Pujara will stay back in England as they are playing in County championship. BCCI is set to send another three-four players with the India A team under the tutelage of coach Rahul Dravid.

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“There is clear understanding that those playing in the County Championship should stay back in England, while another batch of three to four regular Test cricketers could go with India A team under Rahul Dravid to get used to the conditions there. The focus is on ensuring that all the regular Test batsmen get good practice in England before the Test series begins,” added the source.

The BCCI is set to announce three separate squads on May 8. The three squads will include squad for the Afghanistan Test, for India A tour and final one for the England tour.

“There will be three squads that will be selected on May 8. The Afghanistan Test is from June 14-18, followed by UK tour that starts with two-match ODI series against Ireland in Dublin. The selectors will also name India A squad that will tour England in June,” a senior BCCI official had earlier told PTI.

It is good to note that the Indian team has taken good lessons from the South African tour as the management would expect the Indian players shinning in the UK.

Moreover, the Indian team will play three ODIs, as many T20I and five Test matches on the England tour.

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