Afghanistan are all set to host New Zealand in a one-off Take a look at match in September. The match shall be performed from September 9-13 within the Larger Noida Space, India.
Afghanistan have performed in opposition to a number of different groups on the venue and can host New Zealand there as nicely. They not too long ago defeated the Kiwis within the T20 World Cup and this match will mark their first-ever Take a look at match in opposition to New Zealand.
This would be the tenth Take a look at match for Afghanistan general. They’ve received matches in opposition to Eire (2019), Bangladesh (2019), and Zimbabwe (2021) since gaining Take a look at standing in 2017.
Talking about New Zealand, they’ve performed Take a look at matches in opposition to Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia since 2023. They misplaced the primary Take a look at in opposition to Bangladesh and got here again to win the second Take a look at to stage the collection 1-1.
In opposition to South Africa, they received three back-to-back Take a look at matches they usually misplaced two on the trot in opposition to West Indies. They’re presently positioned third on the WTC factors desk with three wins and three losses from six matches with a PCT of fifty. They play their subsequent Take a look at collection in opposition to India in October-November adopted by three Take a look at matches in opposition to England in November-December.
Afghanistan are nonetheless very new to Take a look at cricket and enjoying in opposition to the Kiwis needs to be an excellent expertise. ACB Chairman Mr. Mirwais Ashraf expressed his pleasure about internet hosting New Zealand for the primary time and mentioned: “We’re delighted to host a high quality New Zealand Take a look at staff for the primary time in our cricketing historical past. It is a testomony to the exhausting work we now have put in by way of quite a few discussions and conferences with completely different boards on the sidelines of the varied ICC Board Conferences.”
“The Blackcaps are an impressive all-format staff in world cricket, and we hope to succeed in an settlement with New Zealand Cricket for white-ball bilateral matches sooner or later” he added additional.
This would be the first assembly between these sides since Afghanistan comprehensively beat New Zealand within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2024.
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Afghanistan Defeated New Zealand In T20 World Cup 2024
Earlier this yr, Australia additionally pulled out of a three-match T20I collection scheduled for August, leaving a niche in Afghanistan’s calendar that may now be partly crammed by the upcoming New Zealand Take a look at. Of their two Checks to this point in 2024, Afghanistan have confronted defeats in opposition to Sri Lanka and Eire. They’ve received three matches and misplaced six of their first 9 Take a look at matches. They misplaced their final Take a look at collection in opposition to Bangladesh final yr having received their final recreation on this format in 2021.
Afghanistan made a terrific efficiency on this T20 World Cup beating groups like New Zealand and Australia and making it to the semi-final of the match. This was the primary time ever Afghanistan made it to the semi-finals of any ICC occasion.
They sadly misplaced to South Africa within the first semi-final getting bowled out for simply 56. The pitch in Trinidad got here below large criticism after the Asian facet was rolled over. Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahhmanullah Gurbaz was the top-scorer within the T20 World Cup scoring 281 runs from 8 video games at a mean of 35.12.
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