Hashmatullah Shahidi excited to play against NZ in Greater Noida
The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground is set to host a historic one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand from September 9 onward. This will be the first time such an event is held in the city, with over 10,000 cricket enthusiasts expected to attend. The Afghan team will be led by their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who expressed his excitement about playing in front of Indian fans.
Shahidi's thoughts on the upcoming match
Shahidi considers it an honor to participate in this landmark event for Noida. "It is an honor to play in Noida and be part of such a historic moment for the city," Shahidi was quoted as saying by TOI. Despite Afghanistan's relative inexperience in red-ball cricket and the absence of Rashid Khan, Shahidi remains optimistic about their performance due to their familiarity with the venue.
Shahidi looks forward to playing in front of Indian fans
The Afghan skipper is eager to play in Noida again, stating, "We have practiced here in the past and it is a privilege playing in the city again in front of these stands." He also expressed his enthusiasm about interacting with Indian fans during this match. Shahidi views this as an opportunity for Afghanistan to bring pride and glory to their nation.
Shah highlights Afghanistan's preparation for the Test
Meanwhile, Afghanistan's star batter, Rahmat Shah, also expressed confidence in his team's ability to challenge New Zealand in the upcoming one-off Test. "This Test is important. We have got only one Test match against them. We will try to give them a tough time," Shah told Cricbuzz. He also emphasized on their past experience in India as a potential advantage.
New Zealand's record in Asia and efforts to improve
As per ESPNcricinfo, NZ's performance in Asia have been less than stellar, with only 16 match wins from 90. Their record against India is particularly challenging, with just two victories in 36 Tests. To address this, domestic teams have been touring India for some time now. The next generation of Kiwi batters and bowlers are working hard to enhance their skills for conditions where spin plays a significant role.
