‘Brave’ Afghanistan can beat anyone, says skipper ahead of NZ Test

GREATER NOIDA, India: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said Sunday his side have the potential to challenge the world´s top teams, but will need more exposure in Test cricket.

Shahidi´s team host New Zealand in a one-off Test starting Monday at their adopted home ground in India, near New Delhi, without key players including spin king Rashid Khan. Afghanistan suffered a bruising introduction to Test cricket in 2018 when they lost to India inside two days, but have improved since. Afghanistan hammered New Zealand in this year´s T20 World Cup, but they have won just three Tests out of the nine they have played. “If you look at Test cricket, we are new in this format -- we need more experience,” Shahidi told reporters at the Greater Noida ground.

“As a team and as a country, we are brave people and we accept challenges,” he added. “In the future, if we get more chances we will improve, and show that we are the best team.”