The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Greater Noida Sports Complex has been marred by relentless rain, resulting in the cancellation of the third day’s play. The match, which had already seen the first two days completely washed out without a ball bowled, faced further disappointment on September 10 as umpires deemed the conditions unplayable by 9:15 AM.
Heavy rain fell for two to three hours the previous evening, followed by another downpour early Wednesday morning, rendering the outfield unfit for play. Umpires Sharfuddoula and Kumar Dharmasena made the call to abandon the day’s play before the scheduled start at 9:30 AM, with the broadcasters indicating a “grim outlook” for the remainder of the Test.
Venue Scrutiny and Management Response
The ongoing weather issues have sparked criticism regarding the choice of venue, with many questioning its ability to recover from adverse conditions. Afghanistan Cricket Board’s cricket manager, Menhajuddin Raz, addressed the situation, stating, “There is no blame game at all from anyone, it’s just extremely bad luck.”
This Test match marks a significant moment for Afghanistan, being only their tenth since gaining Test status in 2017. For New Zealand, it is the beginning of a subcontinent tour that includes two Tests in Sri Lanka and three in India, although this match is not part of the World Test Championship.
The abandonment of the first three days of this Test is a rare occurrence in cricket history. The last time the first three days of a Test match were completely abandoned was in 2008 when Bangladesh hosted New Zealand in Mirpur. This Greater Noida Test could potentially join the ranks of seven other matches that have been abandoned without a ball being bowled, the last of which occurred in 1998.
Future Prospects and Challenges
As the rain continues to fall, the chances for any play in the remaining days of the Test look increasingly slim. The Afghanistan team, eager to showcase their skills against a top-tier opponent like New Zealand, faces an uphill battle to find alternative venues for future matches.
The Afghanistan captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed his disappointment regarding the facilities, stating, “The facility is the same the way it was four years ago. Everything is the same, nothing has changed.” An official from the Afghanistan Cricket Board echoed these sentiments, noting that their own stadiums have better facilities than the Greater Noida Sports Complex.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
