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Afghanistan’s cricket team arrived at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida on Thursday, only to be greeted by challenging weather conditions that hampered their first training session. Following overnight rain, the entire field was damp, with pitches flooded, prompting concerns about their preparation for the upcoming one-off Test match against New Zealand.
Captain’s Quip Amidst Adverse Conditions
As the team stepped onto the waterlogged ground, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi humorously remarked, “Yahan to hum swimming kar sakte hain (We could easily swim here).” His light-hearted comment reflected the team’s spirit despite the circumstances. The ground staff, undeterred by the challenging conditions, quickly set to work, employing table fans in an attempt to dry the playing strips as soon as possible.
Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies (CWI), welcomed the Afghanistan team back to their Indian home ground after four years. Shahidi, who received a bouquet from the UP Police, expressed concerns that they might have to play against the Kiwis without any training due to the state of the facilities. “Hum logon ko aadat hai, but New Zealand waalon ko kya kahenge? (We are habitual of even poorer conditions, but what would you tell the New Zealand team management?)” he said while searching for a drier area on the field.
Amit Sharma, the pitch curator, explained the challenges they faced, stating, “We left the entire stadium covered last [Wednesday] evening, but the overnight storm blew away the covers. As I woke up, I rushed to the venue after the security guard sent me a video.” He remained optimistic, hoping for favorable weather conditions as the Test match approaches.
Preparing for the Test Match
Sharma emphasized the importance of maintaining the playing conditions, saying, “It would be a great game if the rain stays away. We have prepared a good black soil strip that would see an even competition between the ball and the bat.” However, he acknowledged that weather is beyond their control, noting that forecasts indicated rain every day until September 8.
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This Test match marks a significant moment for Afghanistan, as they prepare to face New Zealand on September 9. The team has been working hard to adapt to the conditions, and the coaching staff is eager to ensure that the players are ready for the challenge ahead.
Sharma, who has been preparing tracks for various formats of the game since 2013, expressed excitement about preparing for a Test match for the first time. “I have prepared tracks for all white games – T20Is, ODIs – and even Ranji Trophy matches. But for the first time, I am preparing for [tracks] for Test cricket,” he said.
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