‘Disappointing’: Hobart Test match between Australia and Afghanistan officially scrapped

After two months of deliberation, the historic Test match between Australia and Afghanistan has officially been postponed.

The historic Test match between Australia and Afghanistan, which was scheduled to take place in Hobart later this month, has officially been postponed.

Two months ago, Cricket Australia announced it would have “no alternative” but to scrap the one-off Test following reports that women’s cricket would be banned in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.

Catch Australia take on the West Indies at the ICC T20 World Cup on Saturday night (9pm AEDT) on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today.

On Friday afternoon, CA finally confirmed the Test would not go ahead as scheduled, with an internal three-day match to replace the fixture.

“Following extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, Cricket Australia and the Afghanistan Cricket Board have agreed to postpone the inaugural men’s Test match against Afghanistan which was set to be played in Hobart on November 27,” the CA statement read.

“CA is committed to support growing the game for women and men in Afghanistan and around the world, however, given the present uncertainty, CA felt it necessary to postpone the Test match until a later time when the situation is clearer. CA looks forward to hosting Afghanistan players in the BBL this season, who are great ambassadors for the game, and to hosting both the Afghanistan women’s and men’s team in the not too distant future.”

It marks the fourth Test match Australia has postponed in 2021, with a three-match tour of South Africa abandoned earlier this year due to Covid-19 concerns.

Tim Paine’s side will subsequently enter the highly-anticipated Ashes series having not played any Test cricket in 11 months.

Australia has not played a Test match since January. Photo by Mark Kolbe – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker said the state association supported the decision.

“Playing international cricket in our state remains a high priority for Cricket Tasmania and we will be working closely with Cricket Australia on international content opportunities for our Tasmanian cricket fans for both this and future seasons,” Baker said in a statement.

“We’re thrilled with the delivery of the first 24 WBBL matches for this season in Tasmania, and as we have said throughout Blundstone Arena is a world-class facility willing and ready to host any cricket content at short notice.

“We’re grateful to our partners and stakeholders for their understanding as local content for this season shifts.”

Hobart has not hosted a Test match since 2016. Australian Test captain and proud Tasmanian Tim Paine, who is entering the twilight years of his international career, may never get an opportunity to represent Australia at his home ground of Blundstone Arena.

Afghanistan all-rounder and national T20 captain Mohammed Nabi said in a statement: “It’s disappointing the Test match isn’t going ahead this year but I’m happy that the match is only postponed and not cancelled.

“My representative has been assured by Cricket Australia that they remain committed to the development of cricket in Afghanistan, so I look forward to hearing how we can work together in this regard.”

The internal trial match, a squad for which will be announced in the coming weeks, will be held in Brisbane from Wednesday, December 1.

A finalised Test squad will be chosen from this expanded group, similar to how national selectors determined the 2019 Ashes squad.

CA also unveiled a number of fixtures for November and December, including matches for the Sheffield Shield, Marsh Cup and England Lions tour.

The first Ashes Test will get underway at the Gabba on Wednesday, December 8.

Tim Paine may never get another opportunity to play Test cricket in Hobart. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Tour matches

Nov 23-25: England vs England Lions, Redlands, Brisbane

Nov 30 – Dec 3: England vs England Lions, Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane

Dec 1-3: Australian intra-squad match, Redlands, Brisbane

Dec 9-12: Australia A vs England Lions, Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane

Sheffield Shield fixtures

Nov 19-22: New South Wales vs Victoria, SCG

Nov 21-24: Tasmania vs Western Australia, Blundstone Arena

Nov 23-26: South Australia vs Queensland, Adelaide Oval or Karen Rolton Oval

Marsh One-Day Cup fixtures

Nov 24: New South Wales vs Victoria, SCG

Nov 26: Tasmania vs Western Australia, Blundstone Arena (Day-night)

Nov 28: South Australia vs Queensland, Adelaide Oval