The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at Greater Noida has been plagued by controversy, particularly concerning the suitability of the venue. As play was called off for the second consecutive day due to an unfit outfield, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) defended its decision to select Greater Noida as the match location, emphasizing logistical convenience.
Menhajuddin Raz, the ACB’s international cricket manager, explained that the board opted for Greater Noida after being presented with three venue options: Kanpur, Bengaluru, and Greater Noida. “The BCCI offered us three venues – Kanpur, Bengaluru, and this one. We chose to play at Greater Noida as it was most convenient in terms of logistics. It was a two-hour drive from Delhi airport,” Raz stated.
Persistent Rain and Poor Conditions
The Greater Noida Sports Complex has faced heavy rainfall over the past two weeks, which has significantly affected the outfield conditions. Although there was no rain on the second day of the Test, wet patches on the field made it impossible for umpires to allow play, citing “players’ safety” as a primary concern.
Despite the ACB’s long-standing relationship with the venue, having hosted numerous matches since 2016, the current state of the facilities has drawn criticism. “It is because of the rain. Yesterday also, it rained. We had a three-day game here with one of the local teams which went well. We didn’t face any issues. But when the rain started and all of this happened,” Raz explained.
ACB’s Commitment to the Venue
The Afghanistan team has previously played most of their international matches in India at Greater Noida, and the ACB remains committed to this venue despite the recent challenges. “The venue has always been Afghanistan’s home venue. If we talk about back from 2016, we have been playing games here,” said ACB’s international cricket manager, Menhaj Raaz.
The board conducted a thorough inspection of the venue four to six months prior to the Test, and even the visiting New Zealand team had performed their own reconnaissance. “We had conducted a recce four to six months back, and even the visiting team had done their recce. So there was no issue,” Raaz added.
The Impact of Weather on Play
The incessant rain has not only affected the current Test but has also raised concerns about the venue’s ability to host international matches in the future. The ACB considered relocating the match to a different venue, but the ongoing monsoon conditions made it impossible. “We tried working on a solution to shift the game, and they said that because of the same rain, you will not be able to prepare the venue for you in the coming next 24 hours,” Raz said.
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Afghanistan has hosted 11 white-ball international games at Greater Noida, but the current situation has led to frustrations among players and fans alike. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed disappointment over the facilities, stating, “The facility is the same the way it was four years ago. Everything is the same, nothing has changed.”
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