During the sidelines of the ongoing first-ever test match between India and Afghanistan in Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Indian Sports and Youth Affairs minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, “India is completely committed to strengthening and rebuilding Afghanistan including their sports.”
Rathore also said that when it comes to inter-country relations, they are like “inseparable brothers”.
Speaking to ANI he said, “Relations of India and Afghanistan date back to many, many decades; and India Afghanistan are two inseparable brothers, we are completely committed to strengthening and rebuilding Afghanistan including their sports. We have seen them in Indian Premier League (IPL) and congratulations to Afghanistan for becoming a full Test team now. We would like to see them more in other sports as well, wrestling leagues, kabaddi leagues, and many other Olympic sports.”
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Meanwhile, Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah while speaking to ANI appreciated Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their help to the Afghanistan team, he said, “BCCI has helped our team throughout, but they (Afghanistan) have shown big talent, spirit, and energy and they have come thus far, we are very hopeful towards their future.”
He further added, “It is a historical event in our sports history and also in our relations between both countries. As far as sport is concerned, the Afghan players have come a long way in a short period of time. Rashid Khan is a well-known name in India, so are one or two more of these. Cricket was not a known sport in Afghanistan a few years back, but today because of players like them it’s now very popular. Our people feel proud of them.”
On a related note, India won the toss opted to bat first in the maiden Test of the visitors. Team India was led by Ajinkya Rahane as their regular captain Virat Kohli is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a neck injury.
The day 1 ended on a good note for the Afghanistan team as they took 5 wickets in the final session of the day.
Brief Scores: India 347 for 6 (Dhawan 107, Vijay 105, Ahmadzai 2-32)
