Afghanistan don't take a step backward: Shahidi ahead of one-off Test vs New Zealand

While the Indian capital Delhi’s inaugural local T20 League at its historic Ferozeshah Kotla ground came to a thrilling end on Sunday, the Afghanistan and New Zealand cricket teams quietly readied themselves for the one-off Test to be held from Monday in neighbouring Greater Noida’s Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium, which is part of a sprawling sports complex set amid a green expanse.

The continuous rainfall didn’t allow any practice on Sunday as the teams sat in their respective dressing rooms with only the skippers coming out to attend the media conference and the unveiling of the Trophy.

This Test is significant for Afghanistan since they, despite getting Test status back in 2017, rarely get to play the long form. Over the last seven years, they have played only nine Test matches.

Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said it in as many words.

“If you look at Test cricket, we are new in this format. We need more experience. If we get more chances on a regular basis, we will improve a lot. As a team and as a country, we are great people and we accept challenges. In this game and also in the future, if we get more chances we will improve and show that we are the best team,” said Shahidi ahead of the Test.

“In six years, nine games is not a lot. If we get more chances with big teams, we will improve. It’s a good opportunity for us to play against New Zealand, given their rankings. Hopefully, the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) will try harder to give us opportunities against bigger teams in the future.”

Afghanistan will miss the services of Rashid Khan, who has taken a break from Test cricket to recover from a back injury, and Ibrahim Zadran, who too has been ruled out due to injury.

“It’s tough to miss players like Rashid because he did very well in the past in Tests. We will miss him and others. We have more talented guys, it’s an opportunity for them to make their names in the world of cricket. It’s big for each and everyone for us. If we do well, the whole world will talk about us very positively.”

Shahidi said that they are a nation that loves to accept challenges and are willing to put up fight.

“It will be a lack of experience, but when it comes to taking challenges, we are a nation that does not take a step backward. We have talented players and we can do well in every department - some of our players have hundreds in this format. It’s tough, but if we play to our strength, we can beat any team.”

While the Afghans are looking to get some Test cricket under their belt, New Zealand are looking to get their bearings back in the World Test Championship.

The Kiwis are placed third in the 2023-25 World Test Championship points table with 50 percentage points just behind India (68.52) and Australia (62.5).

This is the first of their six Test matches in the sub-continent, a tough assignment for the team looking to make the WTC Final for the second time, and they need to get into the groove in this match.

They play two Tests in Sri Lanka after this and then play three in India.

“It is tough. Obviously, six Test matches in this part of the world and we would like to think spin plays majority of the part as a bowling unit and we have got four quality pace bowlers at our disposal as well. So it's about working out what balance is right and it's exciting to have a number Test matches in this part of the world.

“As a seamer to do well in this part it's a great test for a bowler. So we have to take each match as it comes. We know it's a busy little period for us where we may have to work through our workloads.”

Asked about captaining a side in India with former Australia captain Steve Smith calling it a game of chess, Southee said, “Yeah, very different. Like I said, pace is your main threat back home. Here, it is potentially going to be spin. So it's a challenge, especially for us because conditions are foreign. But we are looking forward to playing six Tests in this part of the world. 

There are no tickets for the Test match with the entry being free.  

Cricket, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Tim Southee, Greater Noida, Hashmatullah Shahidi