Afghanistan Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi Anticipates Challenge in Transition from White-ball to Red-ball Cricket before New Zealand Match

New Delhi: Afghanistan’s Test and ODI captain Hashmatullah Shahidi believes that adapting to different cricket formats can be a daunting task for some Afghan players who need to switch quickly from T20 to Test cricket after being picked for the team. Shahidi suggests the possibility of having separate squads for Test and white-ball formats to enable better preparation for the longer format of the game. Afghanistan is presently in Noida training for the upcoming one-off Test match against New Zealand, set to take place from September 9-13.

Afghanistan will be coming into the series against New Zealand on the back of three successive Test losses – against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ireland. Afghanistan players have made a name for themselves in shorter-format cricket and have been in great demand in different franchise leagues across the world.

“Transitioning from white-ball to red-ball cricket is indeed a challenge, especially as the formats demand different skill sets. Test cricket is more about patience, temperament, and building pressure over long periods, which can be quite different from the fast-paced nature of white-ball cricket,” Hashmatullah said.

“Our coaching staff has been working hard on helping the players adjust their mindset and techniques to suit the demands of Test cricket. We’ve also been focusing on longer practice sessions to help players settle into the rhythm of the longer format. Our preparation has been thorough, focusing on both individual skills and team strategies. We’ve spent considerable time working on the specific demands of Test cricket, from conditioning to mental toughness,” said Shahidi, before adding that separate squads for different formats could help the team.

“Having a separate squad for Test and white-ball formats could indeed make it easier to specialise and prepare for specific assignments. It allows players to focus entirely on the format they are selected for, helping them to fine-tune their game accordingly. This is something we might consider in the future as we continue to evolve as a Test-playing nation,” he said.

Shahidi said that playing in Noida gives them confidence as they are more familiar with the conditions than New Zealand, although he is aware of the quality in the opposition squad.

“Playing in Noida does give us some familiarity with the conditions, which can be advantageous. We understand the pitch behaviour and weather patterns, which might help our bowlers and batsmen to adapt more quickly. However, New Zealand is a top-class side that can adjust to conditions anywhere, so while it may offer us a slight edge, we still need to perform at our best,” said the left-handed batter.