Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons today said his "team has a mountain to climb" before it emerges as a strong Test playing nation. Simmons made his comments after Afghanistan suffered a crushing loss against India on their Test debut with the one-off game finishing inside two days.

"I believe, the team has the potential to emerge as a good Test-playing country but the task at its hands is like climbing a mountain," he told reporters after Afghanistan lost to India by an innings and 262 runs. Before the match, Simmons had called batting as the weakest link in the side and his worst fear came true when the visitors were bowled out twice on day two.