Mumbai: Former Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput hailed Indian cricket board’s decision to host the newcomers in their debut Test. India will host Afghanistan for their first-ever Test in 2019-2020, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced in Mumbai on Monday.
“It is good that they are playing their first Test against India. It will help them in all aspects, including the cricketing one and the monetary aspect. India has always been supportive to Afghanistan [in terms of cricket],” the former Test opener said.
Afghanistan earned their Test status alongside Ireland this June. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi also became the first two Afghanistan cricketers to be bought at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction earlier this year. The 55-year-old former Mumbai batsman, who now coaches Assam, was the coach of the Afghanistan cricket team but decided not to continue with the job due to “security concerns”.
The dates of the historic Test will be chalked out later, BCCI acting Secretary Amitabh Choudhary announced after a Special General Meeting.
He said India will also host 81 matches across all the three formats from 2019-2023. according to the new Future Tours Programme (FTP).
“Afghans were scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 versus Australia but considering the historic relationship between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first Test,” Choudhary told reporters.
The next FTP cycle at home will include high-profile series against England, South Africa and Australia. Among other important decisions taken at the SGM were lifting the ban on the Rajasthan Cricket Association, provided former IPL czar Lalit Modi stays away from its functioning.
“Yes, the ban on the RCA has been lifted but with certain conditions,” BCCI acting President C.K. Khanna said.
