Afghanistan move closer to Test cricket status

KABUL‘s domestic four-day and Twenty20 events first-class and List A status respectively, a news report said on Sunday.

The decision was announced by the ICC on Saturday after meetings of the governing body’s Chief Executives Committee (CEC) and Board, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Afghanistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Shafiq Stanikzai told the website after the meeting: “We appreciate the decision of CEC and ICC board.

“This recognition (from ICC) gives us strength to move forward and to become a competitive Test side in our strategic targeted timeframe,” he said.

Called Ahmad Shah Abdali tournament, the competition moved from a three-day to four-day structure in 2014. It features Amu, Band-i-Amir, Boost, Mis Ainak and Speen Ghar.

A sixth team, Kabul Green, jumped into the fray last year. The same teams play each other twice before the table toppers vie for the season championship. The domestic event runs from September through December.

Similarly, the Shpageeza Cricket League — a Twenty20 event — features the same six sides in a single round-robin format before semi-finals and the final. Afghanistan does not currently have a domestic 50-over competition.

Afghanistan and Ireland are expected to be the next two countries given the opportunity to play Tests. But they are unlikely to get Full Membership, as ICC is mulling over delinking Test status from Full Membership.

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