New Delhi: Former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has joined the New Zealand National Cricket team for the one-off test against Afghanistan in Noida. Rathour was part of the batting unit that won the T20 World Cup in Barbados and is expected to help the Kiwi batters with pitch and climatic conditions.
Rathour played 6 Tests for India in the 1990s before becoming the selector for the national team in 2012. Meanwhile, left-arm off-spinner Rangana Herath is also expected to join the New Zealand squad for the upcoming test match. Herath is expected to teach the trade of left-arm off-spin to Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra who are all expected to be drafted in the probable XI for the upcoming pitch will be the mainstay of the bowling attack for the Kiwis.
A warm welcome to Sri Lankan spin maestro Rangana Herath & former Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour. Herath has been appointed as spin-bowling coach for the three upcoming Tests in Asia, while Rathour joins for the first one-off Test against Afghanistan in Noida #AFGvNZ #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/DD5zoBl6Uz
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 6, 2024
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead seemed excited to work with the new additions to the squad given the ton of experience both have in playing and coaching. Stead remarked-
We’re really excited to introduce Rangana and Vikram into our Test group…
When is the New Zealand and Afghanistan one-off Test?
New Zealand and Afghanistan’s test will start on September 9th and end on September 13th. The match will be held at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground which also happened to be the home ground for the Afghanistan team.
Departure for India! The one-off Test match against @ACBofficials starts on Monday in Noida. The Test will be LIVE in NZ on @skysportnz.
Squad | https://t.co/ETnVBQwCEA #AFGvNZ pic.twitter.com/I3HlpHWqf3
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 5, 2024
Afghanistan squad for the one-off Test
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Gulbadin Naib, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ziaurrahman Akbar, Shamsurrahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masoud, Farid Ahmad Malik, Naveed Zadran, Khalil Ahmad, Yama Arab.
New Zealand squad for the one-off Test
Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young.