Afganistan’s head coach Phil Simmons has talked about how the team is preparing for the upcoming one-off Test huge Test series against India. Simmons reckons that the emotion of playing Test cricket has not kicked in for the Afghanistan cricketers, despite the team winning the ICC Inter-Continental Cup twice.

Simmons also said how difficult it was for him to make the players understand the toughness of a Test compared to the 4-day Cricket they have played. He is putting all of his efforts into making the boys learn the patience, understand the technique required for playing the longest format in Cricket.

The Afghan coach also said that the players would realize the importance of the Test cricket after they have played it. As quoted in News18, he said, “After the first Test match, they will know this level is so much higher and what they need to do to get to that level.”

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Further, Simmons talked about the pressure that will be faced by the Afghanistan boys to take on the mighty Indians at their home soil, He said, “The emotions will hit them when they get to Bangalore. But I think they can handle the nerves. We have seen in the last five to six years that they have stepped up in every format that they have played.”

Phil said the players will have to get themselves much tougher mentally to succeed in Tests. The Afghanistan team is currently preparing for two high-intensity battles while fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. The West Indian called fasting ‘hard’ and said that he respects the team’s culture during the holy month.

“I was with them with last year also. I have kept fast a couple of times so I understand how difficult it is. Their culture is something is they live with day in and day out. It is not the first time that they have played during Ramadan. It is their choice and I respect that,” Simmons concluded.