India will host Afghanistan for their first ever Test in 2019-2020, the BCCI announced in Delhi on Monday.
Afghanistan earned their Test status alongside Ireland this June.
“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,” said BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary after the Special General Meeting on Monday.
@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
Breaking: India to play inaugural test against Afghanistan in 2019-20 to welcome them into five-day cricket. @ACBofficials @BCCI
— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) December 11, 2017
Afghanistan and Ireland were made full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in June, becoming the sport’s 11th and 12h Test-playing nations.
Besides welcoming them into five-day cricket, the BCCI has extended a helping hand to Afghanistan on a number of occasions.
The team from the war-ravaged nation has hosted its home games in India, most recently the series against Ireland in Greater Noida.
Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi became the first two Afghanistan cricketers to be bought at the IPL auction earlier this year.