Mohammad Azharuddin Says Giving Afghanistan Test Status was a Hasty Decision by ICC

Former India skipper, Mohammad Azharuddin has stated that ICC’s decision to make Afghanistan a Test playing nation in their initial stages was a ‘hasty one’.

However, he admitted the fact that Afghanistan is a quality team in the shorter formats, His comments came after Afghanistan suffered a huge defeat at the hands of India by an innings and 262 runs in Bengaluru. They were bowled out twice in a day. It was an embarrassment for Afghanistan who realized what it takes to play Test cricket.

“Afghanistan is good as a team, but there is a difference between playing a one-day international and a Test match. I believe the ICC has taken a hasty decision giving them the Test status. The team should have been given more time. They experienced an embarrassing defeat against India. They were dismissed twice in a day,” Azharuddin was quoted as saying by ANI. He believes Afghanistan’s huge loss will be a lesson to them.

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The Test will be a learning curve for the newcomers. He further stated Afghanistan must work hard and focus on improving their game.

“They will have to play more matches in future. This match will be a lesson for them, and they need to improve. They require gaining more experience,” the former Indian captain said.

Meanwhile, BCCI Acting president, CK Khanna also gave his views on the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan. He congratulated the visitors for making it to this level and winning the hearts of the entire nation.

He further urged the Afghanistan side not to get disheartened after suffering a huge defeat.

“Undoubtedly, they won the hearts of the entire nation. They played their best. And this is not the first time that two innings are over in one day. It has happened earlier as well. And lowest score as far as my information was 84 by South Africa against England. So there is no issue of any disappointment for Afghanistan team,” Khanna said.

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