Afghanistan to host a one-off Test against New Zealand in September 2024 in Greater Noida - Reports
Afghanistan will be hosting a one-off Test against New Zealand in September 2024 at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, according to the Times of India. This will be the first-ever meeting between these two nations in the longer format of the game.
In March 2020, Afghanistan hosted the three-match T20I series against the visiting Ireland side in Greater Noida. They clinched the series by a 2-1 margin having won the first two fixtures, with Ireland winning the third T20I via a Super Over.
And now, with the BCCI providing them with the green signal to host their matches in India, Afghanistan will be back in Greater Noida after a four-year hiatus to welcome the Blackcaps this September.
Afghanistan had a memorable 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign
Meanwhile, Afghanistan are currently in great momentum having achieved the historic feat of reaching the semifinals at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States of America last month. Unfortunately, they suffered a nine-wicket defeat against the eventual runners-up South Africa in the first semifinal in Trinidad.
Nevertheless, it was a memorable T20 World Cup campaign for them as they defeated the likes of New Zealand, Australia and Bangladesh on their road to the semifinal finish. They got the better of New Zealand when these two sides last met in a Group C fixture at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup by a huge margin of 84 runs. While chasing down the target of 160 runs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, Kane Williamson's men were bowled out for just 75 runs in 15.2 overs.
After the one-off Test, New Zealand will be playing hosts India in a three-match Test series which starts on October 16 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is scheduled to host the second game, the third and final clash of the series will be played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.