Australia still planning Afghanistan test, says Cricket Australia

Australia is still planning to host Afghanistan in the countries' first ever test, Cricket Australia (CA) said, despite uncertainty raised after the Taliban seized power in the South Asian country.

The Bellerive Oval in Hobart is scheduled to host the Australia- Afghanistan Test starting on November 27.

Australia is still planning to host Afghanistan in the countries' first ever test, Cricket Australia (CA) said, despite uncertainty raised after the Taliban seized power in the South Asian country.

A CA spokesperson said its planning for the November 27 test in Hobart was "well underway".

"There is goodwill between CA and the Afghanistan Cricket Board to make the match happen, which immediately follows the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE in which the Afghanistan team is due to play," the spokesperson said.

"CA will continue to work with the Australian and Tasmanian governments ahead of the Afghanistan team’s arrival planned for later this year."

The Taliban have said they will not interfere with the Afghan men's national cricket team, though the fate of the more modest women's cricket programmes remains unclear.

Australian broadcaster SBS reported on Tuesday the Taliban would honour Afghanistan's scheduled cricket matches, though a representative for the hardline Islamist movement suggested tours might depend on relations with other countries.

"In the future, we want good relations with all countries," the broadcaster quoted Ahmadullah Wasiq, the deputy head of the Taliban's cultural commission, as saying.

"When good relations are established, Afghan players can go (to Australia) and they can come here."

No country has recognised the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan after their capture of Kabul on August 14.