The BCCI chief executive, Rahul Johri, has confirmed that India will be hosting the inaugural Test of Afghanistan in 2018. As Zimbabwe Cricket cancelled their tour of UAE to play against the Afghans next year because of having a tight schedule before the World Cup qualifiers in March, this news will surely let the Afghanistan Cricket Board a breathe a sigh of relief.

After getting the ICC Full Membership along with Ireland, Afghanistan have been trying to get on the field wearing the all-white jersey.  On the other hand, Ireland will play their maiden Test against Pakistan in May 2018.

The ACB chairman Atif Mashal and CEO Shafiqullah Stanikzai sought India to consider playing against Afghanistan upon their meeting with Johri in Mumbai back in October this year. "The ACB requested us to play their first Test match," Johri said. Attending the special general meeting on Monday, Johri confirmed, "The BCCI has agreed."

India will be playing most of the series overseas in 2018. So, their Test series against the Indian team is likely to take place before India’s tour of Australia. They also intend to fix the dates and venues very soon.

ACB is very excited with their progress. They are also very grateful to the BCCI as well.

"It will be a historic Test match," Stanikzai said. "We would like to thank the BCCI for granting this opportunity to us and accepting our request."

Since 2000, after Bangladesh team stepped into the scene of Test cricket, the fans of the game have not witnessed another new team arrive. So it will be a sight to see how they are going to accept both the Irish and the Afghan sides in the longest format of the game.