New Zealand Team Arrives in India for One-Off Test Series Against Afghanistan, Receives Grand Welcome in Greater Noida; Match Set to Begin Soon

The much-anticipated one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand is scheduled to take place from September 9 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. The New Zealand cricket team has already arrived in India, and the Afghanistan Cricket Board shared a video on social media showing the grand welcome the Kiwi team received at a hotel in Greater Noida.

Rashid Khan to Miss the Match Due to Injury

Afghanistan’s star spinner, Rashid Khan, will not be available for the match due to a back injury. In his absence, Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain the Afghan side. The Afghanistan team has been practicing in India since August 28, gearing up for this important fixture. This Test match marks Afghanistan’s 10th Test appearance since they were granted Test status in 2017, and it will be their first-ever Test match against New Zealand.

 

Welcome @BlackCaps

Video: The New Zealand team has arrived at the hotel in Greater Noida, India, for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan's national team.#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvNZ | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/UlQApG5UXP

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 5, 2024

Afghanistan’s Test Record

Afghanistan has played nine Test matches to date, winning three of them against Ireland (2019), Bangladesh (2019), and Zimbabwe (2021). New Zealand, on the other hand, will also be participating in the ICC World Test Championship series in India in October, adding further significance to this fixture.

New Zealand Squad:

• Tim Southee (Captain)
• Tom Blundell (Wicketkeeper)
• Michael Bracewell
• Devon Conway
• Matt Henry
• Tom Latham (Vice-captain)
• Daryl Mitchell
• Will O’Rourke
• Ajaz Patel
• Glenn Phillips
• Rachin Ravindra
• Mitchell Santner
• Ben Sears
• Kane Williamson
• Will Young

Afghanistan Squad:

• Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain)
• Ibrahim Zadran
• Riaz Hassan
• Abdul Malik
• Rahmat Shah
• Baheer Shah Mahboob
• Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper)
• Shahidullah Kamal
• Gulbadin Naib
• Afsar Zazai (Wicketkeeper)
• Azmatullah Omarzai
• Ziaurrahman Akbar
• Shamsurrahman
• Qais Ahmad
• Zahir Khan
• Nijat Masood
• Fareed Ahmad Malik
• Naveen Zadran
• Khalil Ahmad
• Yama Arab

As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the clash, all eyes will be on Greater Noida for this historic match between Afghanistan and New Zealand.