Shahidi calls for more Tests and a dedicated home venue in India for Afghanistan

Afghanistan's rapid rise in international cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite making significant waves in the ODI and T20 World Cups, the Afghan team has never played an international match on home soil. To address this, Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has expressed a desire to secure a permanent home venue in India.

Following the takeover by the Taliban in 2021, the Afghan cricket scene has faced considerable challenges. The team has been playing its "home" matches in various locations, including the UAE and previously suggested Bangladesh as a potential home venue for their series.

On Monday, Afghanistan will host New Zealand in a Test match in Greater Noida, India. This will be the third Test series held in India by Afghanistan, having previously played against Ireland and the West Indies. Now, Afghanistan aims to establish a specific venue in India as its permanent home ground.

In a press conference before the match against New Zealand, Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said, “India is our home venue. When we host other teams here, it often seems they have played more games than us. We hope to secure a good venue in India where we can play all our matches. This will be more effective for us.”

He added, “Our first-class record is strong because we play on home soil and know the conditions well. We hope in the future, teams will visit Afghanistan, and our averages will improve. We hope our cricket board and the BCCI will provide a good venue in India, where we can play many matches.”

Despite Afghanistan's impressive performances and progress in international cricket, they have yet to host international games in their own country. Securing a dedicated venue in India would greatly benefit Afghan cricket and enhance their competitive edge in future matches.