Afghanistan 'host' New Zealand for the first time ever in Test cricket when they meet at The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, India.
This will also be the first time these nations have met in Test match cricket, anywhere in the world.
The one-off Test is also the first Test to be staged at the venue which has previously staged white-ball internationals but never a full Test match.
Afghanistan vs New Zealand | One-off Test | Monday 9 September – Friday 13 September 2024 | Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida | 06:30
Afghanistan
Afghanistan will have to do without star spinner Rashid Khan with the allrounder picking up an injury in a domestic T20 competition in August.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will skipper the Afghanistan team in this historic first Test match against the Black Caps and is also one of their batters to watch as the first Afghan to record a Test double hundred.
Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah are the only other batters in the Afghanistan squad with a Test hundred to their name with no single player having reached that landmark twice heading into this match.
Afghanistan have won just three of their nine Test matches to date and haven’t won a five-day match since beating Zimbabwe in 2021.
New Zealand
New Zealand will be led by veteran seamer Tim Southee and will face some challenge getting used to the conditions.
The touring Kiwis will be without their leading Test runscorer over the last year as Kane Williamson sits out but they will have form players like Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra to call on.
This match serves as a warm-up for New Zealand’s Test series against India which is likely to be their main focus.
The batting strength of the Kiwis should give them an edge but they will be tested by the Afghan spinners.
Verdict: New Zealand
New Zealand shouldn’t slip up against a team playing just their tenth Test as a nation.
On this day in 2019, #AfghanAtalan secured a commanding 224-run victory over Bangladesh. Skipper @rashidkhan_19 made history as the first player to take 11 wickets and score a half-century in his debut Test as captain. 👍#OnThisDay | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/rDQtoQfurP
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 9, 2024
