The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to give full membership to Afghanistan and Ireland, thereby granting them Test status as the 11th and 12th nations respectively, at its annual conference in London last week. The last time the world of Test cricket welcomed two new entrants simultaneously was in the 1930s.
The Indian hand in Afghanistan's rapid rise is too significant to be ignored. Two players from the war-torn country took part in the IPL for the first time this year, with leg-spinner Rashid Khan stealing the limelight with his deceptive googlies while bowling for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Recently, he took 7-18 as Afghanistan stunned the West Indies by drawing an away series 1-1. For the last one year, their coach is former Mumbai and India opener Lalchand Rajput. Due to the tough conditions at home, Afghanistan's home base is at Greater Noida near New Delhi.
“India's supported us at every step, which we really appreciate. Today too, India, like everyone else, supported our case. We can't thank them enough,” an elated Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Atif Mashal said.
“It's the greatest day in Afghanistan's history. Everyone back home is so excited, I'm receiving so many messages from our ministers and so many other people back home. People are coming out on the streets and celebrating. We've suffered too many tragedies, and this comes as the best piece of news to us at this time. It's taken us merely 12 years to complete this journey (when they played in the ICC's fifth division of the World Cricket League). It's taken a collective effort from everyone, from our government, cricket board, players and the coach to get us here,” said Mashal.
He claimed that Afghanistan, who've become the fifth Asian country in the Test-playing club, will be able to stand against the `big boys' of Test cricket. “We've the talent to play at the highest level. Cricket is hugely popular in Afghanistan, and we've got a good domestic cricket structure in place. We won't stop our efforts to get better. We're spending a lot of money in infrastructure. Inshallah, we will play a Test in Kabul someday. It's too early to say this, but we hope to play a Test in India too,” he hoped. Afghanistan are likely to play their first Test against fellow newcomers Ireland in Bangladesh sometime later this year.
