LONDON, CMC – Afghanistan believe their impressive recent outing against West Indies has further emboldened their chances of achieving Test status.
The ICC Associate side were brilliant in the three-match One-Day International series in the Caribbean earlier this month, stunning the hosts by 63 runs in the opening match at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.
West Indies were then forced to labour before overhauling a modest 136 to clinch a four-wicket in the second match while the third game was rained out.
“West Indies is one of the best teams in the shorter format of the game, and it’s a Test-playing nation,” Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput said.
Afghanistan … confident of achieving Test status following ODI success against West Indies.
“Beating them in the first game gave us a lot of self-belief that we belong at this level.”
The International Cricket Council meet here this week and are expected to mull over the inclusion of Afghanistan and Ireland as the 11th and 12th Test sides.
Afghanistan have pressed their case strongly over the last year with victory in the Intercontinental Cup over Ireland in March, and one-day wins over the Irish, Zimbabwe and Scotland.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman, Atif Mashal, said achieving Test status would be a major boost, not just for the cricket fraternity in Kabul but for the entire nation.
“We are optimistic. We’ve completed all the criteria and already submitted our application,” Mashal told Times of India. It’ll be a great thing for Afghanistan cricket and their war-torn country. This will bring a lot of joy and happiness to the people there. The players will be looking forward to this. It’ll be a challenge for them to make a mark at the Test level.”
