Afghanistan and New Zealand’s head coaches voiced their frustration after the abandonment of their one-off Test due to relentless rain. The match, which was scheduled during the monsoon season, saw the weather wreak havoc as a wet outfield at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex made play impossible.
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott expressed disappointment, mentioning how eager his team was to face the challenge posed by New Zealand. However, the adverse weather conditions proved too much, highlighting the difficulty of scheduling a match during this time of year. Trott emphasized the team’s frustration, particularly with the inadequate facilities at the venue, which struggled to cope with the unexpected and unprecedented downpour. This abandonment marked only the eighth instance in cricket history of a Test match being called off without any play.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead shared similar disappointment, stressing that the Test was an important preparatory fixture ahead of their World Test Championship (WTC) series against Sri Lanka and India. Stead expressed excitement about playing Afghanistan in their first-ever Test match, given the two teams’ recent competitive history in ICC tournaments.
He pointed out how crucial the match would have been to help the New Zealand players become match-hardened before their upcoming series. The cancellation meant the BlackCaps lost a valuable opportunity to build momentum and gain much-needed match practice for their WTC campaign. Stead also mentioned how New Zealand is determined to make it to the WTC final again after their victorious run in the previous cycle. Every Test match holds significance in their pursuit of a spot in the final, and losing this match was a major setback.
Despite sunny weather on the first two days, the outfield remained waterlogged due to heavy rain the preceding nights. The umpires, prioritizing player safety, deemed the ground unplayable. Stead noted that although the weather had cleared, the ground was too soft, with around 1,200 millimeters of rain recorded in the previous week alone. Trott revealed that at one point, the teams considered playing a white-ball game, but the ground conditions and the need to safeguard players’ safety, especially with New Zealand’s upcoming tour, made it unrealistic.
Trott also echoed Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s call for a dedicated home venue for their team. He explained that having a fixed venue would help address issues related to conditions and logistics, which have emerged due to Afghanistan’s limited experience hosting Test matches.
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