Minister Of External Affairs Of India, Sushma Swaraj, Appreciates Afghanistan’s Rise To The Test Level
Sep 11, 2017 at 7:38 PM
The Story
India has played a small yet significant role the helping Afghanistan entirely focus on their progress rather than on other distractions.
An uncertain environment back home caused due to war and unavailability of international standard stadiums had severely affected preparation. Growth in the infrastructure is going strong at the moment as there are currently as many as ten stadiums and close to 15 cricket academies under construction as of now.
However, in the meantime, India agreed to host the rising giants on their home soil while helping them with other facilities as well.
Afghanistan hosts their international matches in India’s Great Noida.
The Test Status
The rapid rise of Afghanistan cricket team has now eventually seen them win the Test status by the ICC this June along with Ireland, making them cricket’s 11th and 12th Test-playing nations.
This news comes as a great reward for the passionate side and cricket loving fans back home.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj praised the Afghanistan’s cricket team on Monday for their recent achievements. Acknowledging the Afghan’s love for the game, Swaraj stated that the recent Tests status was a win for the “testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of Afghanistan.”
She was addressing the press after the Indo-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Council with various ministers including Afghanistan FM Salahuddin Rabbani.
Sushma Swaraj also stated that India would keep on working with Afghanistan to ‘build governance and democratic institutions.’
She said, “The fact that Afghanistan attained the status of test playing nation is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of Afghanistan not to let the forces of death and destruction prevail.”
Afghanistan gained ODI status in 2009 after finishing sixth in the World Cup Qualifier held in South Africa in the same year.
In recent times, they have secured remarkable series win over Zimbabwe. They also drew their maiden ODI series in West Indies.
These performances along with impressive shows against Test playing nations during ICC events paved the way for the grand promotion.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 11, 2017