Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that India would host Afghanistan in the latter's first Test, there have been speculations over the date.
With Indian team scheduled to play back-to-back overseas tours, there were reports the fixture would ultimately be pushed back to the next Future Tours and Programme (FTP) that begins in 2019. Sources in the Board had earlier confirmed to Sportstar that the one-off Test would be held much before the 2019 FTP, and now it has been learnt that the Test will be held in June, 2018.
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While an official briefing is expected soon, highly reliable sources have confirmed that 'as of now' June has been zeroed in on as that's the only available window left for the Indian team.
The small window between the Indian Premier League and India's tour to Ireland and England, it is learnt, will be used to host this historic Test. “The venue and the date for that tournament will be announced shortly. It is likely to be held around that time (June) only,” BCCI acting president, C. K. Khanna, told Sportstar on Wednesday.
While Khanna remained tight-lipped about it, other sources confirmed the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has proposed the BCCI to name the series after two present country heads — Narendra Modi and Ashraf Gani. “There has been a proposal from the ACB regarding naming the tournament after the country heads, but nothing has been decided yet,” the source said.
As far as deciding the venue is concerned, both the boards, it is believed, are pondering over the three possible options -- Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. The ACB wants the match in a venue where the Afghan nationals can reach easily.
Afghanistan, along with Ireland, attained Test status last July and team has its home base in Greater Noida, while its Test home venue is Sharjah.
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