Afghanistan's rise in world cricket will involve a short tour of Australia next year, but Cricket Australia has yet to broach whether this should feature the first four-day Test on home shores.
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Under the new future tours program, Afghanistan are due to visit for one Test in November next year, the entree for a blockbuster four-Test series against India.
The Afghanistan Test will not fall under the points structure of the new nine-nation Test Championship, giving CA greater scope for scheduling.
The governing body could follow the lead of England, who in July will host a four-day Test against Ireland, also a new Test nation, at Lord's.
Afghanistan have played only two Tests since winning full International Cricket Council status in 2017. Thrashed inside two days by India in their maiden Test last year, they at least beat fellow new boys Ireland by seven wickets in March this year.
An official four-day Test could make sense from a practical point of view, for it's doubtful the tourists have the depth of talent to force a contest into five day. But their development could be rapid due to strong support from India. This includes their primary sponsor through the World Cup being Anand Milk Union Limited, an Indian dairy company.
CA chief Kevin Roberts said earlier this year it was important to be "open-minded" about four-day Tests, but CA said on Saturday there had yet to be any discussions.
"Cricket Australia has yet to agree the venues or dates for the planned one-off Afghanistan Test in 2020-21, nor the India Tests, which are part of the FTP," the spokesperson said.
"Four-day Tests are, at this stage, not on CA's radar. As a result, CA hasn't held any discussions with opponents to play any four-day Test matches."
Just where the Test should be held will also be a point of debate, for Queensland Cricket made it clear earlier this month it wants to host the opening Test against India.
Australia have not lost a Test in Brisbane since 1988-89 and players want the home summer to begin there, but it could be preferable to challenge India's strokemakers on a bouncy Gabba deck than Afghanistan. India did not play in Brisbane last summer, for their breakthrough series win came via stops in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
Afghanistan would engender strong local support, particularly as leg-spinner Rashid Khan is well known to Australians through the World Cup.
Australian World Cup captain Aaron Finch said Afghanistan had a lot to offer cricket.
"For the world game, they have got such a huge following of cricket fans in Afghanistan, some huge marquee players that are so sought after around the world," he said.
"Cricket is growing quicker and quicker there. It's a great story. When you talk to their players, I was talking to their captain Gulbadin Naib, he was saying how passionate their fans are and how they have got support all over the world now, which is huge for cricket."
Afghanistan are due to play 12 Tests from this year until 2022, including hosting a one-off return visit from Australia.
- SMH/The Age
