Greater Noida: The highly anticipated opening day of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off due to substandard ground conditions at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex. Despite clear skies on Monday, the venue’s poor drainage system and inadequately prepared outfield rendered the pitch unplayable, causing immense frustration among players and staff.
The match, which marks the first-ever Test between the two nations, was plagued by rain leading up to the event, disrupting New Zealand’s practice sessions. Though rain didn’t persist on the day of the match, the unfit playing surface led to six field inspections, with umpires and players assessing the situation. Despite brief hope for a start when the sun shone brightly, the condition of key areas, including mid-on and mid-wicket, dashed any chance of play.
The facilities off the field were equally disappointing. Afghanistan’s coach Jonathan Trott expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed use of the Super Soppers, which came into action only after 1 pm. The day was officially called off at 4 pm, with the toss rescheduled for the next day at 9 am, and the remaining four days will see 98 overs played daily to compensate for the lost time.
The absence of modern infrastructure further compounded frustrations, as the venue lacked a proper media stand, basic seating for fans, and essential amenities such as water, power, and female washrooms. Fans were left uninformed due to the lack of a public announcement system, and the mismanagement between the stadium authority and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was evident.
The stadium, which had previously served as Afghanistan’s home ground, has been marred by issues since it was banned by the BCCI in 2017 following a match-fixing scandal. Despite this, it has not seen any significant improvements. ACB officials expressed their disappointment, stating that the situation remained unchanged, and they criticized the venue’s management.
Afghanistan captain Hasmatullah Shahidi had previously urged for a “better home venue” in India, highlighting the need for improved facilities when hosting international teams. It remains to be seen if the BCCI will address the issues at the venue for future matches.
