Time Will Tell How Afghanistan Will Fare Out in Tests - Lalchand Rajput

Former Afghanistan coach, Lalchand Rajput believes time will tell how Afghanistan will fare out in Test Cricket. Afghanistan had achieved Test status last year under the tutelage of Rajput.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan cricket has taken giant strides in the cricket world. Their players have come through the ranks to rise in the International arena. In fact, they have shown great form in the shortest format of the game.

Afghan player’s, especially their spinners are instrumental to their success. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have bamboozled the best batsmen of the modern era. Thus, it is an inspirational story for the Afghan cricket.

“It is a historic test match and an emotional moment for the Afghanistan players. People and supporters of the Afghanistan team were looking forward to this great event”, the ex-Afghanistan head-coach, under whom the country made giant strides, told PTI over the phone from Zimbabwe.

Rajput added he is happy for the Afghanistan side. The former coach went on to add they have borne fruits for the hard work.

“I am really happy for them, we really worked hard to get to this position, and hopefully they carry forward the hard-work”, added the 56-year-old Rajput, who is now the interim head coach of Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan has achieved great heights in the shortest format of the game. However, Rajput believes the Test form is a different ball game altogether. Thus, they would have to work hard to achieve success in the red-ball form.

“See, the shorter format they have done exceptionally well and they have to deal with the longer format and so time will tell (whether they are successful. Rashid is one bowler, who can adjust (to the longer format), but test match is a different ball game”, the former Mumbai batsman said.

Rajput added the batsmen would take time against Mujeeb.  The former coach believes the young spinner will have to show more patience in the oldest form.

“Mujeeb has just come in, he had a successful IPL. The batsmen will take their own time to play and the main thing is that a bowler has to keep patience, bowl a lot of spells and that has to be seen whether they can do it in a Test match”, Rajput signed off