New Delhi: The Afghanistan cricket team is slated to tour Australia this year in November for a one-off Test match. The future of cricket in Afghanistan is clouded by uncertainties ever since Taliban took control of the nation on August 15.
In such a situation, there are speculations whether Taliban will allow the Afghanistan cricket team to play the only Test match against Australia in November this year. The Afghanistan vs Australia one-off Test is scheduled to be played from November 27 to December 1.
Deputy head of the Taliban’s cultural commission Ahmadullah Wasiq has confirmed that the historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and Australia will go on as scheduled in Hobart from November 27.
“[All previously organized matches] will continue without interruption, and [the Afghan team] can play with other international teams. In the future, we want good relations with all countries. When good relations are established, Afghan players can go [to Australia] and they can come here,” he said while talking to SBS Pashto, reported Sportskeeda.
Cricket Australia said it is also confident of hosting Afghanistan later this year.
"Cricket Australia's planning for the historic first Test match between Australia and Afghanistan in Hobart is well underway," a CA spokesperson said according to cricket.com.au.
"There is goodwill between CA and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make the match happen, which immediately follows the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE in which the Afghanistan team is due to play," the spokesperson added.
"CA will continue to work with the Australian and Tasmanian governments ahead of the Afghanistan team’s arrival planned for later this year."