Warm Afghan-Style Welcome for New Zealand Team in Greater Noida Ahead of AFG vs NZ Match

For their significant subcontinental tour, the New Zealand squad touched down in India. Afghanistan extended them a hearty welcome; the words “A warm Afghan welcome to New Zealand team” and “Welcome Black Caps” were written on the sign outside the team’s hotel. Additionally, photographs of the test teams from Afghanistan and New Zealand were on show. When the players arrived at their team hotel in Greater Noida, they were greeted with a shower of flower petals under the leadership of captain Tim Southee. The same footage was posted by the ACB.

Welcome @BlackCaps

Video: The New Zealand team has arrived at the hotel in Greater Noida, India, for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan's national team.#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvNZ | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/UlQApG5UXP

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 5, 2024

On September 9, Afghanistan and New Zealand will play a single Test match at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. The first-ever Test match between the two sides will be played at this location, which is also the adopted home field of the Afghanistan squad. As they trained at the Super Kings Academy, athletes like Ben Sears and Rachin Ravindra were already in India. An effort of the Chennai Super Kings, who play both domestically in Tamil Nadu and internationally, is the cricket academy. As a member of CSK, Ravindra had the chance to practice at the academy with his colleague Sears from New Zealand.

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Rashid Khan, who has been struggling with back injuries, will not be available for the Afghanistan team in the meantime. Hashmatullah Shahidi will be in charge of the Afghanistan squad in his absence. For the next one-off Test, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has named a preliminary squad of 20 players. Since their arrival on August 28, the team has been practicing in India. The board will evaluate player performances before selecting a 15-man team for the one-off Test match.

Following that, on October 16, a three-match Test series between New Zealand and India will begin. The Blackcaps will next go on a three-match T20I and three-match ODI tour to Sri Lanka.

New Zealand squad

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young