Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s Test captain, has expressed his desire for Afghanistan to have a permanent home venue in India for their Test matches, instead of constantly moving between locations. Currently, Afghanistan cannot host international cricket at home, so they have been playing their "home" Tests in different venues, including Dehradun, Lucknow, Abu Dhabi, and, most recently, Greater Noida near Delhi, where they will face New Zealand in a one-off Test starting today.
Shahidi believes that having a dedicated home ground in India would help Afghanistan become a more competitive and consistent team in red-ball cricket. He highlighted that stability in a venue would allow the team to develop a deeper understanding of playing conditions, which would enhance their performance.
Addressing the media before the Test against New Zealand, Shahidi stated that playing consistently in one venue would be more beneficial for the team, as moving between different grounds makes it harder to establish a home advantage. He also mentioned how Afghanistan's players have a strong record in first-class cricket when playing on their home grounds in Afghanistan and hopes that one day international teams will be able to visit their country for matches.
Afghanistan, a Full Member since 2017, has played only nine Test matches in six years. Although they are set to play 22 Tests between 2023 and 2027 as part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), only a few of those games are against top-ranked teams. After the upcoming match against New Zealand, Afghanistan’s future Test opponents include Zimbabwe, Ireland, India, Australia, and West Indies.
Shahidi acknowledged that Afghanistan's limited exposure to Test cricket is a challenge, as playing just nine matches over six years is insufficient for significant growth. He highlighted the need for more opportunities to face stronger teams, which would help Afghanistan improve as a Test-playing nation. Shahidi expressed optimism that the Afghanistan Cricket Board is working to secure more series against top teams, which would give the players valuable experience.
He also emphasised the importance of playing multi-match Test series rather than single matches. Preparing for just one Test is difficult, and Shahidi believes that playing a three- or four-match series would give the team more time to adapt to the format and improve their game.
Although Afghanistan is ranked 12th in ICC Test rankings, they have excelled in white-ball cricket, ranking ninth in ODIs and tenth in T20Is. Their impressive performances in last year’s ODI World Cup, where they defeated teams like England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and their semi-final appearance in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, have solidified their reputation as a formidable team in limited-overs formats.
However, Shahidi is determined to elevate Afghanistan’s standing in Test cricket. He accentuated that the team is eager to prove that Test cricket can be their strongest format. He encouraged his players to seize every opportunity, showcasing their skills and talents in red-ball cricket to make a mark on the international stage.
Despite their ambitions, the upcoming Test against New Zealand may face disruptions due to bad weather, as rain and thunderstorms are forecasted throughout the week, potentially limiting Afghanistan’s red-ball action in this match.