Afghanistan and New Zealand set to play one-off Test in September in Greater Noida

Afghanistan Team. (Photo Source: ACB/Twitter)

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that it will host New Zealand for a one-off Test match in September 2024. This historic encounter, scheduled from September 9-13 in Greater Noida, India, marks Afghanistan’s first-ever Test against the Blackcaps.

The match holds particular significance as it will be Afghanistan’s 10th Test since gaining Test status in 2017, and their third in 2024, the most they have played in a calendar year.

It also marks the first time Afghanistan will use the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground for a Test match, a venue that has previously served as their adopted home ground for other formats. ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf expressed his enthusiasm for this landmark event.

“We are delighted to host a quality New Zealand Test team for the first time in our cricketing history. This is a testament to the hard work we have put in through numerous discussions and meetings with different boards on the sidelines of the various ICC Board Meetings,” Ashraf said in a statement.

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The Blackcaps are an outstanding all-format team: Mirwais Ashraf 

For New Zealand, it serves as valuable preparation ahead of their three-Test tour of India in October. The Blackcaps will arrive in Greater Noida on September 5 for a three-day conditioning camp, while the Afghan team will begin their preparations with a week-long camp in Delhi in late August.

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This fixture also fills a gap in Afghanistan’s schedule created when Australia withdrew from a planned T20I series in August, citing humanitarian concerns. The ACB views this Test as a stepping stone towards more comprehensive bilateral agreements.

“The Blackcaps are an outstanding all-format team in world cricket, and we hope to reach an agreement with New Zealand Cricket for white-ball bilateral matches in the future,” he added.

Afghanistan’s Test record currently stands at three wins and six losses, with victories against Ireland, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. While they have struggled in recent Tests, losing to Sri Lanka and Ireland in 2024 and Bangladesh in 2023, this match presents an opportunity to show their progress.