“It is a privilege”: Afghanistan skipper elated to play one-off Test in Greater Noida

The Greater Noida Sports Complex will play host to the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand in the second-week of September, 2024. The Test match is set to draw over 10,000 Indian spectators to the ground in Noida.

The match will see Afghanistan squad led by their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, face off against New Zealand in what promises to be an exciting contest. The Afghanistan skipper shared his thoughts about the upcoming match.

“It is an honor to play in Noida and be part of such a historic moment for the city. We look forward to our days in the city with a lot of love from cricket fans who we know are here in plenty,” Shahidi said.

“We have practiced here in the past and it is a privilege playing in the city again in front of these stands. Indian fans are someone we really look forward to seeing and we hope they will show up in force. This match presents a wonderful opportunity for us to bring pride and glory to our nation, and we look forward to doing so in front of such passionate fans,” Shahidi added.

The international match which is expected to be an exhibition of top-tier cricket, will be supported in its mission by Play Sports, India’s leading sporting talent development enterprise. Play Sports is presently working on Phase One’s talent development initiative in Rajasthan to inspire the next generation of athletes for Prime Minister’s Olympic Vision of 2036.

Shubham Choudhary, Co-Founder & CEO of Play Sports, expressed enthusiasm about the event by stating that, “We are excited to see international players playing test match in Noida for the first time. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which is sure to enthrall cricket fans and add to the growing sports culture is something we are excited about.”

Lavish Choudhary, Founder & Chairman of Play Sports, also spoke in support of the Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test and said that, “This series is not only a celebration of cricketing talent but also a testament to the growing stature of the game in our capital city in India. We are proud to be part of this exciting chapter in the sport’s history and look forward to witnessing exceptional performances from both teams.”

Afghanistan squad for the one-off Test: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Alikhil (WK), Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib, Afsar Zazai (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaurrahman Akbar, Shamsurrahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masoud, Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveed Zadran, Khalil Ahmad, Yama Arab

New Zealand squad for the one-off Test: Tim Southee (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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