New Chandigarh: Afghanistan may enter their one-off Test against India as underdogs, but head coach Richard Pybus sees the contest as an important opportunity to assess the team’s growth as they build towards a stronger future in the longest format.
The match at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in New Chandigarh will be Afghanistan’s first Test since October 2025, when they suffered an innings-and-73-run defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare. The long gap between matches highlights one of the biggest challenges facing Afghanistan’s Test ambitions — a lack of regular fixtures.
“Our challenge in Test cricket is, first and foremost, getting more fixtures so we can continue to evolve as a team,” Pybus said ahead of the match.
The former South Africa and Pakistan coach is preparing for his first assignment since taking charge of Afghanistan and has spent the initial weeks understanding the players and the environment.
“This is my first match in charge. The focus so far has been on getting to know the players, understanding them and building relationships,” he said.
Pybus has been encouraged by the strength of Afghanistan’s domestic structure and the talent emerging through the ranks.
“I’ve been very impressed by the quality of first-class cricket and the depth that exists within the system,” he said.
He also credited former head coach Jonathan Trott for helping establish a strong foundation during his four-year tenure.
“Jonathan did an outstanding job over four years, helping to develop this side and putting good structures in place,” Pybus said.
Afghanistan’s rise from Associate status to a competitive international side has been one of cricket’s most remarkable success stories. Pybus believes the focus now should be on sustaining that progress.
“The development of the Afghanistan team has been quite incredible over a very short period of time. The aim now is to continue building on those strong foundations,” he said.
However, he stressed that development in Test cricket requires continuity.
“To play one Test and then wait four or five months for the next is not ideal. Learning in Test cricket needs continuity,” he said, adding that Full Member nations should receive a proper fixture schedule to aid their growth.
While calling for more opportunities, Pybus acknowledged the support Afghanistan has received from the BCCI.
“Credit to the BCCI. They’ve given us plenty of cricket this year, which is fantastic for our development,” he said.
The challenge facing Afghanistan in New Chandigarh is considerable. India remain one of the strongest teams in home conditions, and Pybus acknowledged the scale of the task.
“When you come to India and play India in India, it is one of the great challenges in world cricket and always has been,” he said.
“India are incredibly difficult to beat at home, not only because of the quality of their players but because of their understanding of the conditions.”
After inspecting the pitch, Pybus expects conditions to change quickly as the match progresses.
“The wicket looks really good. With the heat, the moisture will disappear quickly, and it will be interesting to see how long the surface holds together,” he observed.
Afghanistan will be without star spinner Rashid Khan, who continues to manage a long-standing back issue.
“Rashid has a long-standing back issue and a huge workload. The priority is helping him stay healthy and play for Afghanistan for as long as possible,” Pybus said.
Despite Rashid’s absence, the coach remains optimistic about Afghanistan’s future, pointing to the country’s deep passion for the sport.
“The passion for cricket in Afghanistan is absolutely unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” he said.
Pybus recalled seeing people play cricket in difficult conditions across the country, a reflection of the game’s popularity.
“Children and adults play on grounds made of stone, with concrete pitches in the middle. The lack of facilities does not diminish their love for the game,” he said.
That passion is now being fuelled by a generation of Afghan players who have become global cricket stars and role models.
“Afghanistan now has genuine global cricket stars, and that inspires young players to dream. That bodes very well for the future,” he said.
As Afghanistan prepare to face a young Indian side also navigating a transition phase, Pybus believes both teams face similar challenges in switching back to red-ball cricket.
“India’s players are coming out of the IPL and our players are coming out of a one-day competition. In many ways, both teams are in a similar position heading into this Test,” he said.
For Afghanistan, however, the focus remains firmly on the task at hand.
“Our focus is entirely on this Test match. It’s about getting the mindset right, executing our plans and delivering under pressure.”
While the odds may favour India, Afghanistan view the historic Test in New Chandigarh as another valuable step in their continuing evolution as a Test-playing nation.
