Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test Delayed Again Due to Poor Ground Conditions
 |
| The one-off test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off for a second consecutive day due to rain and poor pitch conditions. / Getty |
The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand at Greater Noida, near New Delhi, has seen a second consecutive day of no play due to persistent rain and subpar pitch conditions.
Despite efforts by ground staff, including the use of electric fans and tarpaulins, the pitch remained unplayable, forcing umpires to call off play mid-afternoon on Tuesday.
This Test match, Afghanistan's 10th since gaining Test status in 2017, was meant to begin on Monday, but rain and the waterlogged outfield delayed the toss. Groundsmen resorted to desperate measures, digging up and refilling parts of the wet outfield with dry soil and laying fresh turf. Unfortunately, the poor drainage system at the Greater Noida ground, which was hosting its first Test, was inadequate to handle the monsoon downpours leading up to the game.
Although the sun shone on Monday and Tuesday, the outfield remained soggy, with New Zealand's players forced to stay in their hotels as conditions failed to improve. They eventually conducted practice drills on the ground later in the day. Umpires carried out multiple inspections but ultimately called off play once again.
The conditions and facilities at the Greater Noida ground have faced heavy criticism, with The Times of India labeling it "ill-equipped." Inadequate drainage and a lack of proper infrastructure have sparked dissatisfaction, even among Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials, one of whom was quoted as saying, "This is a huge mess. We are never coming back here."
Greater Noida was chosen as a venue despite Afghanistan's preference for Lucknow or Dehradun, both of which were unavailable due to local leagues. The BCCI has supported Afghanistan by providing venues for hosting matches outside their home country, but the disappointing conditions at this ground have raised concerns.
New Zealand, led by Tim Southee, have not publicly commented on the situation. The team is set to travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests before returning to India for a three-match Test series.
No coin toss or play possible on day two in Noida due to the wet outfield following overnight rain #AFGvNZ pic.twitter.com/VlYOff5MTw
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 10, 2024
Afghanistan has previously hosted several T20 and ODI matches at Greater Noida since 2017, but this Test match's troubles have left a sour impression on both players and officials. The future of the venue as a host for international cricket appears uncertain as criticism mounts.