Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Promising Afghans face test against world’s best

Endurance exam for giantkille­rs in limited overs cricket

- Ashutosh Sharma ashutosh.sharma@htlive.com ▪

BANGALORE: When Afghanista­n face India in their inaugural Test at the M Chinnaswam­y Stadium on Thursday, it will be the fruition of a remarkable sporting journey of a strife-torn nation.

A spark lit in the bleak environs of refugee camps in Pakistan has in spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman in particular found the torch-bearers who have carried Afghanista­n swiftly to a format still regarded as pinnacle of cricket.

Regardless of how they fare, the newcomers were the least likely of the associates who were expected to make it to the Test

ranks, unlike Ireland, given Test status with them, who were knocking on the doors of ICC.

India, the No 1 Test side, will be without skipper Virat Kohli. However, the significan­ce of the game is not lost on anyone. India has helped Afghanista­n make the country their ‘home’, extending all facilities, away from the turmoil back home.

For Afghanista­n, it will be a fresh test of fitness, endurance and patience, having made a mark in the limited-overs formats. If their game remains true to the spirit with which they have played white-ball cricket, they will be fearless and won’t be overawed by the occasion.

India will see the match as a way to ease into a fresh season. Led by Ajinkya Rahane, the hosts have rested Bhuvneshwa­r Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah while keeper Wriddhiman Saha is injured and Mohammed Shami unfit. The priority will be preparing for a long England tour. The match, thus, provides a chance for KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma to put forth their case.

Almost all India players are coming out of IPL-- Cheteshwar Pujara had a quiet time with Yorkshire while M Vijay did not get an IPL game.

Rain disrupted Afghanista­n nets on Wednesday and could have a say on the match.

 ?? PTI ?? ▪ Afghanista­n players during the team’s practice session on the eve of their oneoff Test against India in Bangalore.
PTI ▪ Afghanista­n players during the team’s practice session on the eve of their oneoff Test against India in Bangalore.

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