The opening day of the historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off due to poor conditions at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida. Despite no rain on Monday, a sodden outfield, subpar drainage, and inadequate facilities rendered the pitch unplayable, leading to the cancellation of the day’s play without a single ball being bowled.
Ground staff struggles amid poor infrastructure
The venue’s shortcomings were evident as ground staff struggled to prepare the field. Even with sunny weather later in the day, inspections by umpires and New Zealand players revealed significant issues with the pitch, particularly around the mid-on and mid-wicket areas. Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott expressed frustration as the groundsmen’s efforts proved insufficient.
The stadium, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, faced criticism for its lack of modern facilities. Media and fans endured poor conditions, including inadequate seating, lack of water and power supply, and poor communication. An Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) official criticized the venue, stating, “This is a huge mess; we are never coming back here.”
The players are also unhappy with the facilities,” an ACB official stated. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had also urged for better venue arrangements ahead of the Test.
The Test, part of an ICC-affiliated series, is not a World Test Championship match but remains significant.
