In a historic moment for both Afghanistan and New Zealand cricket, the Blackcaps have landed in Greater Noida, but not for a match against India. Instead, they will take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test match, marking the first time the two nations face each other in the longest format of the game. The match will be played from September 9 to 13 at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, just outside of Delhi.
New Zealand gears up for Afghanistan challenge
New Zealand, led by captain Tim Southee, arrived in the national capital early Thursday morning. After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, the team headed straight to Greater Noida to prepare for the upcoming match. This will be a significant encounter, as Afghanistan will be hosting a Test match on Indian soil, a setup facilitated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The match comes right before New Zealand’s World Test Championship (WTC) series against India, which is set to take place later this year. The Blackcaps, crowned the first-ever WTC winners in 2021, will face a different kind of challenge against Afghanistan, who have been growing steadily in the red-ball format.
Afghanistan journey in Test Cricket
Afghanistan earned Test status in 2017 and have since played nine Test matches, winning three. This includes victories over Ireland, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. Hosting New Zealand for a Test is a landmark moment for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), with ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf expressing his delight over the arrangement.
“We are delighted to host a quality New Zealand Test team for the first time in our cricketing history,” Ashraf had said. “This is a testament to the hard work we have put in through numerous discussions and meetings with different boards.”
Afghanistan’s growing reputation
Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket has been rapid, particularly in the T20 format. Their recent victory over New Zealand in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has added to their growing reputation. However, this will be their first clash with the Kiwis in Test cricket, a format where Afghanistan is still carving out its legacy.
This Test match will be Afghanistan’s 10th since achieving full-member status in 2017. The one-off Test provides a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills against a world-class Test team, and potentially gain more traction for future bilateral series, including white-ball matches.
India vs New Zealand: Historic Test
While the Afghanistan cricket team has played many of their “home” matches in India, this will be one of the most high-profile Test matches they’ve hosted on Indian soil. For New Zealand, it’s a unique challenge before they take on India in a crucial Test series. The cricketing world will be watching closely as these two teams compete in a match that could set the tone for their future encounters.
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