Taking forward their bilateral relations to a new height, in a historic first, India and Afghanistan will play their first Test match in Bengaluru from Thursday. Afghanistan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah will be the chief guest at the inaugural match while the Indian side will be represented by Rajyawardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.
Afghanistan achieved Test playing nation status in 2017. However, India has been associated with the development of cricket in Afghanistan since 2001 when Afghanistan joined International Cricket Council.
Sources said Afghan players have received training and coaching from Indian coach in their formative years and India had helped in the construction of cricket stadiums and preparing grounds in Afghanistan. The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground became the home ground for Afghan cricket team after they decided to shift their home ground from Sharjah. Sources added cricket has become a unifying factor in the warn torn Afghanistan. Afghan players like Rashed Khan and Mohammed Nabi won hearts in India with their performance in the IPl matches.
India has been promoting Afghan players in the IPl too particularly after the Pakistani players were banned from playing in IPl