New Delhi: A wet outfield due to overnight rain forced no action on the opening day of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand on Monday, putting the lens on the drainage system and facilities at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida.
Afghanistan’s first Test at their adopted home could not begin after heavy rain pounded the venue for the last 10 days. As outfield and the bowler’s run-up area were both wet the umpires decided to abandon play for the day after conducting several inspections.
It is the first ‘home’ game for Afghanistan at their adopted host venue as away teams refuse to travel to their country over security concerns.
After playing their first Test in 2018 against India in Bengaluru, Afghanistan have played two more five-day matches in India – against Ireland in Dehradun and versus the West Indies in Lucknow.
But all excitement for playing at their new home evaporated in the morning of the match at a venue having only a basic drainage system. Rain had hampered the preparation of the match too with New Zealand unable to complete even one adequate practice session.
Though no rainfall happened on Monday absence of modern facilities couple with inexperienced ground staff meant the turf couldn’t be made ready for action.
Througout the day the umpires inspected the conditions six times with several New Zealand players, including skipper Tim Southee also taking stock of the conditions.
Poor facilties
The action was called off eventually at 4pm with the toss scheduled for 9am on Tuesday. The game will begin half an hour early at 9.30 am with 98 overs being played on each of the remaining four days.
But sans modern facilities groundstaff would find it difficult to conduct the match if rain falls as apart from poor drainage, the ground doesn’t have a proper media stand and proper seating arrangements for spectators.
Inadequate water and power supply and absence of any public announcement system were red flags apaprt of scant communication between the stadium authority and the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
“This is a huge mess, we are never coming back here. The players are also unhappy with the facilities here,” an ACB official said told PTI.
“We had spoken with the concerned people well in advance and were assured by the stadium guys that everything will be in order (pertaining to the media facilities).”
The first day of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida was called off on Monday without a ball being bowled. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
