Richard Pybus, the head coach of Afghanistan, stated on Friday that how both teams’ batters handle the spin problem will determine the outcome of the one-off Test match against India, which begins in Mullanpur on Saturday.
After playing another one-off match in Bengaluru in June 2018, which India had won in just two days, India and Afghanistan will play on Saturday in what will just be their second Test match ever.
“The Mullanpur pitch, for how long grass cover can hold the pitch (together) and how well both sides play with spin bowling playing huge part, will decide (the course of the Test),” PTI quoted Pybus telling reporters on the eve of the Test.
Pybus recognized the magnitude of the issue as Afghanistan gets ready to confront an Indian team undergoing transition.
“You come to India and you play India in India, it’s one of the great challenges in world cricket and it always has been. There is no doubt that India are incredibly challenging to beat at home, not only because of the quality of the players but obviously their understanding of their home conditions,” he said.
Pybus stated that his major goal is to make sure Afghanistan’s incredible cricket progress is matched by significant possibilities in the longest format, even though the country is still focused on the immediate issue of facing India.
“To play one Test and have a four or five-month break before you play your next Test match, whatever you’re going to learn, there needs to be a concentration of learning. That’s not an Afghanistan question, that’s an ICC question, really,” he said.
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s star spinner, will not be playing because he has been rested to manage his workload and extend his availability for white-ball cricket. The Gujarat Titans, who advanced to the final of the Indian Premier League, included the right-arm spinner. Rashid has a history of back issues, according to Pybus.
“Rashid has got this long-standing back complaint. He’s got such a huge volume of cricket, you know, he’s got to manage himself,” Pybus said.
“I look forward to having that conversation to see how we can support him, not only just with the opportunity to maybe continue to play some red-ball cricket if there is potential for that, but generally make sure he can play as long and as healthy as possible for Afghanistan,” the Englishman said.
Pybus, who succeeded fellow Englishman Jonathan Trott, claimed to have discussed Afghan cricket with the former middle-order batter.
“I had a chat with Jonathan Trott to understand his journey and congratulated him for developing a side,” Pybus said.
