'We're ready for Test cricket': Afghanistan

While Ireland stayed on course to become the newest Test-playing nation with a win over Hong Kong in the Intercontinental Cup, the Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO has declared their side ready for the game’s longest format.

With their 70-run victory over Hong Kong in the four-day competition for Associate nations on Friday, Ireland maintained their perfect record to stay top of the table.

There’s huge incentive to win the Intercontinental Cup, with the winner of the eight-team tournament to play the bottom-ranked Test nation in 2018 for the chance to qualify for Test status.

Ireland remain the form side with four wins from four matches so far, but Afghanistan, also undefeated with three wins and a rain-affected draw, are hot on their heels in second place.

Afghanistan lost to Ireland in the final of the most-recent edition of the Intercontinental Cup in 2013 and the two nations appear to be the standouts among the Associate nations in the longer format of the game.

And Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Shafiq Stanikzai believes the country is well-equipped to become Test cricket’s 11th Test-playing nation.

Quick Single: Three Aussies in Waqar's ODI XII

"We think that we are ready to play Test cricket and we have proven that," Stanikzai told ESPN.

"Since we entered into the Intercontinental Cup arena, we were beaten only once. That was in the (2013) Intercontinental Cup final where we got beaten by Ireland but that's the only loss we have in a four-day game or multi-day game."

Afghanistan were the most impressive of the Associate nations in this year’s World Twenty20 in India.

After strong showings against Sri Lanka and England, Afghanistan remarkably defeated eventual-champions the West Indies, who shared the joy of their delighted opponents in their post-match celebrations.

"We have a real good package for every single format of the game," Stanikzai continued. "If you have a look at the Afghanistan cricket team, we have almost a different squad for every single format.

“We have T20 specialists, we have ODI specialists, we have multi-day players, specialists not just in batting but in bowling as well.

“So we are carrying a different bunch of players in every single format we are playing."

Afghanistan are scheduled to take on Ireland in their final match of the Intercontinental Cup in March next year in India.

Stanikzai hopes a two-tier Test cricket system – which has been suggested as a way to introduce two new Test sides, with the 12 teams split into a top division of seven and a second division of five – will be passed by the International Cricket Council.

“The talent is huge in Afghanistan and things have shaped up quite nicely and we have improved quite rapidly in the cricketing world," Stanikzai said.

"Afghanistan is a team that is ready to play Test cricket. We are just looking forward for this (two-tier) proposal to get passed by the ICC board.

“My stance and Afghanistan Cricket Board's stance is quite clear that we need more opportunities."

But with India recently reaffirming their opposition to a two-tier system, it appears Afghanistan’s best chance of attaining Test status will be to overcome four-time Intercontinental Cup-winners Ireland, and then defeat the tenth-ranked Test nation in 2018.