AFGHANISTAN GEAR UP FOR WEST INDIES AT NEW HOME

LUCKNOW:FOR Afghanistan, India is home away from their troubled turf. Next week, they will begin life at their new home here, after Greater Noida and Dehradun hosted their international games.

Team manager Mohammad Nazeem Jaar feels the pressure as they gear up to host a first full series against West Indies with three ODIS and T20s each, and a one-off Test. The series starts on Nov 6 with the ODIS.

“We came here last night and have to manage so many things. Somehow we have sorted arrangements for the stay of the two teams. The wedding season is a big problem to get enough rooms for teams in hotels here at the eleventh hour,” Jaar said on Monday as his team held its first training session. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Stadium will stage the matches.

New skipper Rashid Khan stayed back in the hotel having landed from the UAE in the morning. They have left out experienced pacer Dawlat Zadran for the series. After the team lost all nine matches at the World Cup under Gulbadin Naib’s captaincy, Rashid Khan was named skipper for all formats.

Things have looked up since the World Cup. Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh in a one-off Test and also made it to the final of a T20 tri-series in Bangladesh where Zimbabwe was the other team. The final though was abandoned due to rain. The seasoned Hashmatullah Shahidi, Noor Ali Zadran and Samiullah Shinwari have been left out for the ODIS. New coach Lance Klusener is expected to arrive on Wednesday.