Asghar Stanikzai hopes to cash in on the 'home' advantage in Dehradun

Team Afghanistan is all set to host Bangladesh for a short 3-match T20I series in Dehradun, India. On the eve of the first T20I of the game, the skippers of both the sides – Shakib Al Hasan and Asghar Stanikzai – attended the press conference. The Bangladeshi skipper Shakib looked very impressed with the way the opposition side has improved in the recent times. Shakib went on to quote that the Afghanistan team will enter as favorites to win the T20I series.

He cited that Afghanistan has grown tremendously in the recent times. Commenting further on the opposition, as per the quotes in India TV, Shakib Al Hasan backed the Afghanistani side to do well in the Test cricket as well. Afghanistan and Ireland were recently granted Test status by the ICC. While Ireland made their Test debut against Pakistan, team Afghanistan is set to play their first Test against India after the conclusion of the T20I series against Bangladesh.

“They have come a long way, especially in the last few years. They have world-class players in the squad and they deserve the Test status. As long as they play the top teams regularly irrespective of the format. That should give them enough exposure,” Shakib Al Hasan quoted.

Stanikzai looking optimistic before the series

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai hopes to make the most out of the T20I series. He believes that the team can take the confidence, if they win the T20I series, in the Test match against India. Also, he hopes to make the most out of the resemblance that Dehradun has with Afghanistan. Stanikzai cited that the team has had various home grounds in the past, but Dehradun looks to be the closest to the venues in Afghanistan.

“Bangladesh are very competitive and if we beat them, we take that confidence into the Test. Also, we are really in good space here in Dehradun. We have other home grounds in Greater Noida and UAE but with hills overlooking the stadium, this feels closest to Afghanistan,” Asghar Stanikzai conceded.

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