Virat Kohli's world No.1 ranked team will host Test newcomers Afghanistan as officials sign off on deal
Afghanistan to face India in first Test
Afghanistan will play their first Test match in India against the current world No.1 Test nation, it was confirmed today.
The CEO of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Rahul Johri, and the chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board Atif Mashal took to social media to announce the deal.
@ACBofficials and @BCCI have agreed that Afghanistan will play its first Test against India. The exact date and venue of the match will be shared in a joint press conference in due course. I personally thank BCCI board for the decision. @BCCI @ARG_AFG
— Atif Mashal (@MashalAtif) December 11, 2017
India to play inaugural test against Afghanistan. welcome them to five-day cricket. @ACBofficials @BCCI
— Rahul Johri (@RJohri) December 11, 2017
The Afghan fixture revelation came as the BCCI agreed in principle to the next stage of cricket's Future Tours Programme (FTP) at a special general meeting of the board.
No dates have been slated for Afghanistan's historic first Test match, although it is expected to be in 2018.
"Afghans were scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 versus Australia but considering the historic relationship between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first Test," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary was quoted by Press Trust India.
Afghanistan, along with Ireland, were awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council in June.
Ireland will play their first Test match against Pakistan in May.
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