New Delhi: Afghanistan will play their maiden Test match in the southern Indian city of Bangalore from June 14-18, cricket officials announced Tuesday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it welcomed the opportunity to host its “friends” for their first Test since Afghanistan became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year.

The war-torn nation’s team has played the majority of its home games in India, which supported its quest for Test status.

“It will be a historic day for Afghanistan and everybody is waiting for it,” Atif Mashal, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman, said after meeting his Indian counterparts in New Delhi.

“The support of BCCI to ACB over the last several years has been tremendous,” he added.

The one-off Test has been scheduled ahead of India’s tour of Ireland and England starting June 27. ACB chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai said Afghanistan will provide “good preparation” to India for the England series.

India currently top the world Test rankings.

“It will be (a) tough challenge for Afghanistan against a mighty Indian team but a pleasant one and one that we will learn a lot from,” Stanikzai said.

Agencies