Afghanistan’s first Test against Australia has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Afghanistan’s Cricket Board (ACB) announced on Saturday.
The Test was scheduled to be played in Perth from November 21 to November 25.
The ACB said in statement: “The decision was taken considering the unfortunate circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe and its effects on the cricketing activities of member boards.”
After obtaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan has played only four Tests so far, winning against Ireland and Bangladesh and losing to India and West Indies.
“The historic match against Australia was scheduled to be held in December this year at Perth,” the statement said. “ACB will look forward to the important match between both teams once the situation gets better and cricketing activities are resumed.”
Ireland and Afghanistan, the two countries whose teams achieved full ICC membership in 2017, have been assured 12 Tests each between 2019 and 2022 despite not taking part in the Test Championship.
According to the ICC’s Future Tours Program (FTP), Afghanistan is also slated to host the Australians in 2022.
Afghanistan currently plays their home matches in India at the new Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium in Dehradun.
