Afghanistan's historic one-off Test against New Zealand in India has garnered much anticipation, particularly from Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has highlighted the potential of two young Afghan batters, Riaz Hassan and Bahir Shah, who have impressed in domestic cricket.
Ashwin believes that Hassan and Shah could emulate the impact of former Indian stars Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif, who played a pivotal role in India's Test resurgence in the early 2000s. He noted that both Hassan and Shah possess promising first-class averages exceeding 55.
"This one-off Test will be fun to watch," Ashwin wrote on social media. "Afghanistan produces insane talent, but they need solidity in their batting department. I'm excited to see what Riaz Hassan and Bahir Shah have to offer."
Afghanistan's batting lineup has been a concern, with Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah being the only consistent performers. Hassan and Shah's inclusion could provide the stability and depth that the team needs.
Ahead of the Test, Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah expressed confidence in his team's chances. "We have past experience of playing in India, so we have an edge," Shah said. "We will try to give New Zealand a tough time."
New Zealand, the inaugural World Test Championship champions, will be a formidable opponent. However, Afghanistan's familiarity with Indian conditions could give them an advantage.
The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand will be a significant milestone for Afghan cricket. It will provide a platform for Hassan and Shah to showcase their talent and potentially inspire a new generation of Afghan Test cricketers.
Tags: #AfghanistanCricket, #NewZealandCricket, #RavichandranAshwin, #RiazHassan, #BahirShah
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