There must be butterflies in your stomach as the days of playing Afghanistan's historical first-ever Test (against India) comes closer.

As you know we have our inaugural game with India, it's every player's dream to play Test cricket. It's a dream and a fantastic opportunity given by Allah to play this big Test. It's a big thing. We are waiting for this day to begin. I think in our cricketing history, this would be the most enjoyable day for Afghanistan, which we will definitely enjoy, Inshallah.

Does the dream of taking the field let you all sleep peacefully?

As you know, it's the first Test match. When we were making debut in international cricket, when I was playing for the first time, there was a wish in the heart that when will we play our first game and when will that morning be? There used to be a dream — when will I play for Afghanistan? Just like that, it's every players dream to play Test cricket. I am not sure everybody will get sound sleep, because every player wants to play and dreams to be in the playing XI and perform well. It will be the same for every player.

How has the team prepared for it, anything special like batting on turning tracks (or batting against more off-spinners to prepare against someone like R Ashwin)?

Our home ground is India and Sharjah. In my view Inshallah, the way our batsman play against spin, I am sure we won't be found wanting. We have played a lot in Sharjah and India. As you see we are stationed in Dehradun (during T20Is against Bangladesh), it's a spin track too. Most of the Asian tracks are spinner frendly. Ashwin is a big spinner, especially in Tests, thus, it's a different matter. We are preparing last two months for this game. As you know, we defeated Bangladesh in T20s. We used to have two (practice) sessions, where in the morning we would work on Tests and evening, T20s. In my view, our preparation has been good. That we have played T20 cricket, we just have to switch our minds from T20 to Tests and the change of ball colour. I don't think there will be any issues, because we have trained really well in the last two months. It's not important that we are playing Ashwin, but we are playing against India. They have two three spinners, (Ravindra) Jadeja, Kuldeep (Yadav), all three of them are best spinners of India. We are not targeting just one, but have prepared for all. We, too, have spinners, who bowl chinaman, off breaks, left-arm spinner. We have faced them all and have been preparing against them. I don't think there will be issues playing against spinners.

Can you take us through Afghanistan's journey from the beginning (including the struggle) and then the historic first Test. How emotionally draining has it been for you all?

It was every player's dream to play Test cricket. When we started cricket, there was no one to see and nobody was interested in following us. Since we started playing for Afghanistan, we won tournaments and series, people started showing interest in cricket and in huge numbers. Now, they love the game, they watch it. We also had a dream to get the One Day International status, become associate member (of ICC), then full member. Alhamdolillah, we have now become a Test nation. It is every player and country's dream to become a Test nation and we have achieved it. Whatever hard work we have done, it is for this day, that one day we become a Test nation. There is nothing as big as being a Test nation. Whatever dream that we and our people had has been achieved, Alhamdolillah.

India is, of course, one of the top Test teams, and at home they are unbeatable, how do you see your chances in the Test match against them? (Realistically speaking, will drawing the game be a like a victory for Afghanistan?)

India is No.1 in Test cricket and especially, when they play at home, they are amazing and it's really difficult to beat them in India. But our efforts against India will be to play good cricket so that people enjoy the game. Win or loss is a different matter, whoever plays well will win. Inshallah we will try to play good cricket, we will get to learn a lot from India. At the same time, India might also get to learn something from us. We will try to play better cricket than India in a positive way.

The team must be proud with the way Rashid Khan took IPL by storm — with his all-round performances. Your comments.

As you know, the way Rashid Khan has performed in the IPL, it was amazing. He is the No.1 spinner in the world. I think to play Rashid Khan is very difficult, if you see Rashid has a lot of experience in international cricket, world leagues. He is an experienced bowler. His performance in the IPL was outstanding, Rashid has played 14-15 matches in the IPL, he might have not bowled well in one or two games, but he has been superb in 95 per cent games. His performances were worth a watch.

There was a social media joke going around where some Indians asked the government to give citizenship to Rashid so that he can play for India...

(Laughs) I think whoever loves his country, will not take nationality of any other country. India is our best friend and there is no doubt about it. Our friendship with India has been great and if you see our home ground is India too. I think this nationality thing was just a joke, and nobody takes it seriously. Afghanistan has made Rashid Khan. Rashid Khan has not made Afghanistan, because Afghanistan hai to Rashid hai, Afghanistan nahi toh Rashid kuch nahi hai (Afghanistan is there thus Rashid is there, if there is no Afghanistan then Rashid is nothing.) Main point, is country first, people come later whether they are big or small. Country is the identity of the player. Rashid Khan got identity through Afghanistan, I think, nobody will do anything like this (laughs).

What kind of boost has Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman's performances in IPL has given Afghanistan ahead of the big Test?

If you see, Rashid Khan has played IPL matches, he has got experience in four day games too. Mujeeb doesn't have that kind of experience because he hasn't played four-day, red-ball cricket. The kind of experience that Nabi and Rashid have, Mujeeb is now playing and he will get the experience on how to bowl in Test cricket. He will know the difference between bowling T20s, ODIs and Tests. Yes, Mujeeb is new but Rashid is experienced.

And how has Rashid's success in IPL given hope to cricketers in Afghanistan?

You see Rashid is in the IPL, so whoever comes to play in Afghanistan wants to become a spinner. Rashid has become a role model in Afghanistan for spinners especially. If you see a lot of young and talented spinners are coming up in Afghanistan. If you see below (age group) we have some good two, three spinners in U-19, who are leg spinners, left-arm spinners and follow Rashid. The brand of spinners coming up are amazing. With the kind of spinners coming up in Afghanistan, in the future you will forget Rashid. Because every cricketer is thinking that he should do something new so that the world notices them, like how Mujeeb is doing. They (youngsters) want to do something different. Afghanistan's future is bright in spin.

How keen was the team to play against Virat Kohli and now that he has pulled out due to an injury, how disappointing it is not to play against him?

Team depends on 11 players, not one. If Virat Kohli was here, it would have been more fun playing the Test, with the kind of experience he has and the manner in which he plays Test cricket. If you see Team India, all the players are Virat Kohli for us. For us it's not that Virat Kohli is special or there is no one. Ever Indian player is a Virat Kohli. All are good players and have good experience in Test cricket. I think it won't make a difference if one player comes and goes, it won't make much of a difference. If Virat Kohli would have been here, we would have enjoyed it, and so is the case if MS Dhoni was around. Even he is not here. A player hopes to play against a tough team, if there is no Virat Kohli, it doesn't mean that India will become weak. If there is Virat Kohli or not, it will matter less to the Indian team.

Afghanistan selectors have picked a spin-heavy team. What is the idea behind that? (Are you expecting the Bangalore wicket to be a turner?)

Our team has three fast bowlers, four spinners. It is a balanced team. We have prepared for both the situations. If it's a seaming track we have fast bowlers to do the job, we have spinners too. If you look at the history, the ball spins there (Bengaluru) a lot. Going by the record in Test matches, the match hardly goes into the fifth day. If you look at the average, 80 to 90 per cent is a spin track. I think you cannot prepare a seaming track over here. Weather, condition, its obvious, it will support spin. If it's a spin track, our spinners are in great form or if it's a fast bowlers one then our fast bowlers are Mashallah in good form.

Tell us about the composition of your side, and how happy are you with the balance of your team?

In the last four five matches, we have added a couple of players. We have batsmen, wicketkeeper, spinners, fast bowlers. It was the same team which played I-Cup matches — four day games with the sae combination. There is not much change in this team. We have played three I Cup (Intercontinental Cup) tournaments, we won two and lost one in the final. We have played all I Cup finals which means we are good in four day cricket and will also play good Test cricket. We have won 60 to 70 per cent I Cup in one innings. Our boys have a played a lot of cricket. We may not have experience like India, but it won't be anything like how a new team plays.

What are you planning to take from the historical Test?

We have never played Test match against a Test nation. We will get to learn a lot. India plays well in India and that we will get to learn a lot, how they play and prepare before matches. We don't have this experience but I am sure after the Test we will learn from it like the way we after playing in the ODIs and T20s. And by playing against the World No 1 team, we will not just learn but will also enjoy the game. Inaugural Test – Yeh zabardast rahega (It will be fantastic).

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