The historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida has been marred by continuous delays, with each day adding to the growing frustration. Despite minimal rain, no play was possible during the first two days due to wet patches in the outfield, which rendered the ground unfit.
Fans and experts began questioning the choice of venue, pointing to poor drainage and inadequate facilities. Tuesday’s clear weather had raised hopes for play to resume on Wednesday, but rain early on Day 3 dashed those expectations. The toss, scheduled for 9:00 AM IST, was delayed, and by 9:12 AM, an official announcement confirmed that play for the third day had been abandoned.
The early rain only worsened the already problematic drainage situation, making it impossible for play to start even if the rain had stopped. Match officials quickly decided to call off any possibility of play for the day. “Afghanistan versus New Zealand Day 3 is called off due to persistent rains. The match will commence with 98 overs from tomorrow if the skies get clear,” stated the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
As hosts, Afghanistan seldom get the opportunity to play against top teams like New Zealand, making this series even more significant. Reports suggest that the Afghanistan Cricket Board had been given three venue options by the BCCI but chose Greater Noida, a decision now under scrutiny. On Day 2, ground staff went to great lengths, using portable fans and placing dry grass on the wet patches in a desperate attempt to make the field playable, but their efforts proved futile.
The unfortunate series of events surrounding the Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test has left fans disappointed and raised serious concerns about the suitability of the venue for hosting international matches. With persistent rain and inadequate drainage facilities continuing to disrupt play, the focus has now shifted to whether the remainder of the match can proceed.
For Afghanistan, this Test was a rare opportunity to compete against a top-tier team, but the weather and poor ground conditions have overshadowed the excitement. Moving forward, the Afghanistan Cricket Board may need to reconsider its venue choices to avoid similar disruptions in the future, ensuring that such high-stakes matches are not lost to logistical oversights.
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