Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Shafiqullah Stanikzai has said that the comprehensive defeat to India will serve as a drawing board for the team in their quest to establish themselves as a top Test team.
Afghanistan were thrashed by an innings and 262 runs inside two days on Friday and says that experience is something they can learn from.
“We are not taking it on ourselves, there was a lesson to be learned,” Shafiqullah was quoted as saying by the AFP.
The Afghans in a huddle during the Test. Image – BCCI/Twitter.
“It was a good thing that we faced the world number one Test side in our inaugural match. It has given us a real indicator if we are to become a top cricketing side in the world.
“I had a brief chat with the captain and he knows what needs to be done. We can only go higher and higher from here.”
Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons has attributed Afghanistan’s horror start to nerves.
“I think in the first part nerves got the better of them, and as they went along they showed what they are capable of,” the former West Indies cricketer said.
“But I think they are by no means happy with how they performed,” he added.
However, the Afghanistan coach has no doubt that the side will eventually get used to the pace of Test cricket.
“I do believe they want to succeed, they want to be good at it and we have to work five times as hard as we did. I believe that they will get there,” Simmons added.
