- Young Chinese turn to AI pets for emotional relief
- Allen outguns Jackson as Bills beat Ravens, Eagles sink Rams
- Champions Cup success perfect Six Nations warm-up - France skipper Dupont
- Yamal symbol of rising Barca aiming for Champions League progress
- Asian markets track Wall St and Europe rally after Trump-Xi talks
- Trial into stabbing spree that sparked UK far-right riots to open
- No sweat, no shake as Svitolina cruises into Melbourne quarters
- Late night tears and hugs for released Palestinian prisoners
- Trump vows to end 'American decline' at inauguration eve rally
- TV host issues on-air apology to Djokovic over 'insulting' comments
- 'No matter the faith': east Ukraine marks Epiphany despite war divide
- Straka shakes off nerves to win US PGA American Express
- New 'oligarchy' under fire as elites descend on Davos
- Barkley dashes through the snow as Eagles beat Rams
- Djokovic condemns 'violence' against protesters in Serbia
- Barkley powers through the snow as Eagles beat Rams
- Trump vows 'speed and strength' at inauguration eve rally
- 'Back on track': Trump supporters brave freezing conditions to attend rally
- On last full day as president, Biden urges Americans to 'keep the faith'
- Marseille slump to Strasbourg draw as title hopes dwindle
- Inter beat Empoli to keep pressure on Serie A leaders Napoli
- India uses AI to stop stampedes at world's biggest gathering
- Sinner, Swiatek eye quarter-finals at Australian Open
- 80 killed, thousands displaced in Colombian guerrilla violence
- 'We want peace' say Colombians displaced by fresh guerrilla violence
- 'Mufasa' claws its way back atop N.America box office
- Dele Alli attempts comeback at Serie A outfit Como
- Swiss police clear hundreds of anti-Davos protesters
- Weary LA firefighters brace for 'last' dangerous winds
- Foden stars as Man City hit Ipswich for six
- 'We are worst team in history of Man Utd': Amorim
- 80 killed in three days of guerrilla violence in north Colombia
- Penaud scores six, Dupont shines as French clubs dominate Champions Cup
- Man Utd, Spurs sink again as Forest maintain Premier League title dream
- Mbappe shines as Real Madrid thrash Las Palmas to claim Liga lead
- First Israeli hostages freed as Gaza truce begins
- 'Our mission': Auschwitz museum staff recount their everyday jobs
- After celebrations, displaced Gazans return home to destruction
- Everton beat sorry Spurs to ease relegation fears
- Trump says will delay TikTok ban, proposes US part-ownership
- Brighton rock woeful Man Utd after Law tributes
- Hamas hands over first Israeli hostages as Gaza truce beings
- McGrath leads Norwegian sweep of Wengen World Cup slalom
- Hatton holds nerve to clinch Dubai title from Hillier
- Lopetegui linked with vacant Belgium job
- Leverkusen's Terrier out for season with Achilles tear
- Olympic champion Axelsen wins record-equalling third India crown
- Djokovic refuses Australian Open interviews over 'insulting comments'
- Djokovic braced for 'big battle' with Alcaraz at Australian Open
- Russians take Epiphany dip in waters hit by oil spill
'Brave' Afghanistan can beat anyone, says skipper ahead of NZ Test
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said Sunday his side have the potential to challenge the world's top teams, but will need more exposure in Test cricket.
Shahidi's team host New Zealand in a one-off Test starting Monday at their adopted home ground in India, near New Delhi, without key players including spin king Rashid Khan.
Afghanistan suffered a bruising introduction to Test cricket in 2018 when they lost to India inside two days, but have improved since.
Afghanistan hammered New Zealand in this year's T20 World Cup, but they have won just three Tests out of the nine they have played.
"If you look at Test cricket, we are new in this format -- we need more experience," Shahidi told reporters at the Greater Noida ground.
"As a team and as a country, we are brave people and we accept challenges," he added.
"In the future, if we get more chances we will improve, and show that we are the best team."
Afghanistan will miss leg-spinner Rashid, who has taken a break to recover from an ongoing back injury.
Shahidi said it would be "tough" without him but was confident in his inexperienced team's young talent, including 23-year-old spinner Shams Ur Rahman.
The skipper said it was also a chance for new names to step up.
"We have more talented guys, it's an opportunity for them to make their names in the world of cricket", he said.
"Everyone is willing to give their best", he said.
"We have talented players, and we can do well in every department -- some of our players have hundreds in this format," he added.
"It's tough, but if we play to our strength, we can beat any team."
- 'In for a fight' -
New Zealand, led by Tim Southee, begin their South Asia tour against Afghanistan, ahead of two Test matches in Sri Lanka and three more in India.
The Afghanistan Test is not part of the World Test Championship, but the remaining five will be.
The team's practice sessions on unfamiliar subcontinent pitches have been interrupted by rain.
"Conditions are foreign to what we are used to, but we are excited about the chance of playing six Test matches on the bounce here in the sub-continent," said Southee.
"It's exciting to play cricket in India".
Southee said he remained wary of Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan have been an improving side for a number of years," he said.
"Any time you come up against them, you know you are in for a fight".
He added that spin bowling would play a key part in all six Tests.
"When you come to this part of the world, you expect spin to play a heavy role, and we have a number of different options and some quality spinners to turn to," he said.
New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler in Test history to claim all 10 wickets in an innings against India at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in 2021.
Ferreira--PC