The only Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand being held at Greater Noida Stadium is facing serious disruptions due to continuous heavy rainfall. On the fourth day, the toss, which was scheduled for 9 am, had to be cancelled once again, marking yet another day without any play.
Heavy Rain Halts Play For Four Straight Days
For the fourth consecutive day, no ball has been bowled in this match. The Afghanistan Cricket Board issued a statement: “The fourth day’s match between Afghanistan and New Zealand will not be played due to continuous rain. A decision on the next day’s play will be taken tomorrow morning after inspecting the stadium at 8 am.”
This disruption has raised questions about the preparedness of the ground to host international matches. Wet outfield conditions on the first two days were already a concern, and the rain hasn’t allowed any improvement. This situation has also put the focus on the suitability of the venue for high-profile matches in the future.
Ground Preparedness in Focus as No Play for Four Days
Test cricket has a long history, and matches being abandoned without a single ball bowled are rare. In fact, only seven Test matches have suffered such a fate. One such instance occurred during a New Zealand match in Dunedin in 1998, which also got cancelled due to rain. Unfortunately, it seems that Greater Noida Stadium is now facing similar circumstances.
Afghanistan, playing its 10th Test since 2017, does not get frequent opportunities to play against top teams like New Zealand. This Test match, although not part of the ICC World Test Championship, was a valuable chance for Afghanistan to test its mettle against a strong opponent. With four days of rain, the match seems to be heading towards a complete washout.
Greater Noida Stadium’s Future in Doubt
The choice of Greater Noida Stadium has drawn attention for more than just the rain delays. The BCCI had banned the venue back in 2017, and since then, it has struggled to host any significant cricketing events. The BCCI even suggested alternative venues such as Bengaluru and Kanpur to the Afghanistan Cricket Board, but Greater Noida was chosen due to the familiarity of Afghan players and lower costs.
Given the current conditions at the ground and its poor reputation, it is now uncertain whether the venue will be able to host future international matches. Sources have indicated that the chances of hosting matches at Greater Noida Stadium in the near future are very slim. The last major domestic event hosted here was the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2019, and no BCCI home matches have been held since then.
New Zealand is scheduled to head to Sri Lanka after this match for a two-Test series, followed by a three-Test series in India starting from October 16.
