Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is in a challenging situation as his injury-hit team prepares to face a strong New Zealand in a one-off Test match in Greater Noida, near New Delhi, on Monday.
Afghanistan's chances of causing an upset against a New Zealand team ranked seven places higher in the official Test rankings have been significantly hampered by the injuries to key players, including spin spearhead Rashid Khan and fast bowler Naveed Zadran. With a weakened bowling attack, Afghanistan has included three uncapped players, among them spin all-rounder Shams Ur Rahman and fast bowler Khalil Ahmed, in their 16-member squad.
For New Zealand, this Test marks the beginning of a six-Test series over the next two months in Asia, a continent where their Test record—16 wins in 90 matches—is not particularly impressive. Following this match, they will travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests in Galle later this month, before returning to India for a three-match series against Rohit Sharma's team.
Batsman Kane Williamson recognized the rarity of playing so many games in Asia and viewed it as a valuable opportunity for adaptation. "It's crucial to adjust your game, as we don't play here consistently in this format. We have quite long intervals without playing here," Williamson told reporters.
"It's about re-familiarizing ourselves... our last Test match was six or eight months ago. So, as a team, we're reconnecting with that as a red-ball group and aiming to apply our skills and plans as effectively as possible."
Desiring to enhance their performance in the region, New Zealand has bolstered their support staff with the addition of former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath and ex-India batting coach Vikram Rathour, hoping to gain insights into local conditions.
