Afghanistan, Ireland granted test cricket statusADNAN ABIDI/ REUTERS Afghanistan's Shafiqullah hits big at the T20 World Cup in 2016. Afghanistan and Ireland will join the ranks of full test-playing nations after receiving the backing of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) conference. As new full members of the ICC, Ireland and Afghanistan will take the total of countries playing tests to 12. READ MORE:* Patel, Ronchi retire from international cricket* India arrests 19 celebrating Pakistan cricket fans"Everyone has waited for this news and has been so keen to hear this news. Afghanistan cricket has gone from strength to strength and we dared to dream that this would happen and today it has become a reality," he added.

Source: Stuff June 22, 2017 18:56 UTC