Afghanistan Opener Ibrahim Zadran Doubtful for Historic Test Against New Zealand
Afghanistan’s hopes of a strong start in their inaugural Test match against New Zealand have been dealt a blow with the injury to opening batter Ibrahim Zadran. The 22-year-old sustained an ankle injury during the team’s final practice session in Greater Noida on Sunday, just a day before the historic encounter.
“Today, in the practice session, Ibrahim had an injury in his ankle. But it’s not sure 100 percent what will happen tomorrow. We will see what will happen with him,” Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said at the pre-match press conference.
Zadran’s absence would be a significant setback for Afghanistan, as he has been a key contributor in their Test matches. He has played seven of Afghanistan’s nine Tests, scoring 384 runs at an average of 32.00, including a maiden century against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
The injury to Zadran adds to Afghanistan’s already depleted squad, as they are also without star spinner Rashid Khan. The absence of these two key players could make it challenging for Afghanistan to compete against a strong New Zealand side.
Persistent rain has also hampered the preparations for both teams, with the practice sessions being disrupted. The weather forecast for the Test match is also uncertain, with rain predicted for the first few days.
Despite the challenges, Afghanistan will be determined to make a strong impression in their first-ever Test match. They will be led by experienced skipper Shahidi, who has played 10 Tests and scored over 500 runs.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their dominance in Test cricket. They are ranked second in the ICC Test rankings and have a strong squad led by captain Kane Williamson.
The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand will be a historic occasion for both teams. It will be the first time that Afghanistan has played a Test match against a top-ranked nation, and it will also be the first Test match to be played in Greater Noida.
