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Afghanistan Expects Test Status at Upcoming ICC Meeting
Afghanistan is the top nation in associate cricket along with Ireland. Afghans have defeated big teams since made international debut in 2009.
They beat West Indies in 2016 World T20, followed by an ODI match win in Saint Lucia days ago. They beat defeated Bangladesh twice in ODIs, first in Asia Cup 2014 and then in a bilateral series. More over the won ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe.
In March, they beat their close Associate rival Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup in major step toward Test cricket.
“Afghanistan submitted application to move up from associated to full membership of ICC for further development of the cricket game,” Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said in a Twitter post.
“We cannot give any time frame at the moment, it is upon the ICC, they will decide when to give Afghanistan the Test status, and it is not in our hands,” chairman of ACB, Atif Mashal told AFP during a recent interview.
“Afghanistan deserves Test status because their performances are good. Once they get to play Tests, more and more players will come forward just like happened in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — Kenya suffered because they were not awarded.
“I think it will be the ICC’s best decision of the century,” he added.
“For any team to make its mark, it takes a while to really get a hang of it no matter how good you are at the shorter versions.
“It’s extremely important to provide Test status for Afghanistan and perhaps Ireland, because it is also a virtuous circle.”
Earlier this month, ACB officially sent an application to ICC for full membership and this week’s meeting in London is expected to announce the decision.