KL Rahul and Shubman Gill struck impressive centuries, while B Sai Sudharsan continued his strong start to Test cricket with a fluent 81, as India dominated the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, reaching 368/3 in 85 overs at stumps in New Chandigarh on Friday.
India begin their one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday with plenty more at stake than just another win.
India's emergence as a healthcare destination for South Asia is often measured in numbers: foreign patients treated, hospitals accredited, surgeries performed and revenues earned.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi believes his side has come a long way since its maiden Test appearance against India in 2018, but says regular exposure to red-ball cricket remains crucial for the team's development.
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate on Thursday provided an encouraging update on pacer Mohammed Siraj’s fitness ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, while also revealing that the team management is still weighing its spin-bowling combination for the match starting in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India was in the process of procuring wheat to be transported to Afghanistan.
The PM pointed out that India has close relations with all the Central Asian countries at the bilateral level.
The promise to contain terrorist groups must also be followed with more meaningful actions, though Lyons suggested "a certain amount of realism" will be required here.
The United Nations has warned that as many as one million Afghan children are in danger of starving and most of the country’s 38 million people are living below the poverty line. Faced with the Taliban’s request for funds, Western powers are likely to put the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan high on their agenda, along with their recurring demand for the Taliban administration to share power with Afghanistan’s minority ethnic and religious groups.
Taliban officials meanwhile have said they want good relations with the world while claiming to have fulfilled the promises made to the world for recognition.
