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Afghanistan vs New Zealand: The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand, scheduled to be held at Greater Noida Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium, has been called off without a single ball being bowled. The final day of the match, Day 5, was canceled due to persistent rain, rendering the ground unplayable. This Test was meant to mark the first-ever clash between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Test cricket, but the venue poor conditions and ongoing weather issues prevented any play.
An official statement explained that continuous rainfall in Greater Noida led to the abandonment of the day play. The last instance of an entire Test being washed out was in December 1998. when a match between New Zealand and India in Dunedin was similarly affected. This situation recalls the historical context of the abandoned Melbourne Test between Australia and England in 1970. The rain on the fifth day of that match led to the first-ever one-day international (ODI) being played, marking a significant shift in cricket history.
The Greater Noida venue has faced criticism over its preparedness for such conditions. Reports suggest that the ground lacked sufficient covers and had a poor drainage system, complicating the efforts of the ground staff. In an unusual attempt to prepare the field, the staff even removed patches of turf from less critical areas to cover the wet patches on the playing surface.
The choice of venue also drew scrutiny. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had offered alternatives like Kanpur and Bengaluru, Afghanistan Cricket Board international manager, Menhajuddin Raz, explained that Greater Noida was selected for logistical convenience due to its proximity to Delhi airport. Despite the issues, the venue was chosen based on the ease of travel rather than its readiness for adverse weather.
Test cricket history
Before this recent abandonment, only seven Test matches in cricket history had been called off without a ball being bowled since 1890. The most recent instance occurred almost 26 years ago in 1998 during a Test between New Zealand and India in Dunedin. This is the first time such a scenario has happened at an Indian venue.
In Greater Noida, persistent rain over the past two weeks, combined with inadequate facilities—such as insufficient ground covers, poor drainage, untrained staff and a lack of super-soppers—led to extensive damage. Despite sunny weather on the first two days, the umpires decided against play due to safety concerns. This situation has raised serious questions about the stadium readiness and its ability to handle adverse weather conditions.
Afghanistan To Play South Africa Next
Although the Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test could not proceed, Afghanistan next cricketing fixture is a three-match ODI series against South Africa. All matches will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE, with Afghanistan as the designated home team.
The Greater Noida Test, which was washed out, also had Afghanistan as the home team. Reports indicate that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chose this venue to minimize logistical costs, despite being offered alternatives. As this was the venue first Test assignment, its future as an international venue is uncertain, pending the report from match referee Javagal Srinath.
Full list of abandoned men’s Test matches
- England vs Australia in Manchester, 1890
- England vs Australia Manchester, 1938
- Australia vs England in Melbourne, 1970/71
- New Zealand vs Pakistan in Dunedin, 1989
- West Indies vs England in Georgetown, 1990
- Pakistan vs Zimbabwe in Faisalabad, 1998
- New Zealand vs India in Dunedin, 1998
- Afghanistan vs New Zealand in Greater Noida, 2024
Since 2017, Afghanistan has played six T20Is and five ODIs at Greater Noida, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) choosing this venue for its proximity to Delhi airport. Despite the recent issues, the BCCI has provided Afghanistan with options for training and hosting matches outside their country. The ACB has been cautious about criticism to maintain good relations with the BCCI. Afghanistan, having gained Test status in 2017, has participated in nine Tests, including a challenging debut loss to India in 2018 but has since won three Tests. New Zealand. which couldn’t train due to weather, will next play two Tests in Sri Lanka before three more against India.
Afghanistan Rashid Khan to return from injury for South Africa ODI series
Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan will make his return from a back injury for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. batter Ibrahim Zadran has been ruled out due to an ankle sprain, according to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Khan missed the one-off Test against New Zealand. which was washed out in Greater Noida after four days of rain. Bowler Naveed Zadran, who also missed the New Zealand Test due to a side strain, is back in the squad. The ODI series will be hosted by Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE, with matches scheduled for September 18, 20 and 22.
Afghanistan Squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik
Questions Raised over Greater Noida Stadium Management
The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida came under scrutiny after the first two days of the Test match were called off despite clear weather. This raised questions about the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the stadium managers, and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Former BCCI secretary Arun Dhumal clarified that the ACB was responsible for selecting the venue.
He explained, “They wanted Kanpur, but it was unavailable as we are hosting a Test match there. Bengaluru was not logistically feasible for them and while we have two stadiums in Mohali, logistics were again an issue. Given that playing in Delhi-NCR was more suitable and they had previously played at the Greater Noida venue, the ACB chose it,” Dhumal told The Indian Express.
BCCI Intervention
According to a PTI report, the BCCI arranged covers from Arun Jaitley Stadium and extra super-soppers from Meerut on the evening of Day 2 in an attempt to mitigate the situation. But all the attempt was washed out by incessant rain post Day 2.
Stadium Management Responds
Speaking to radio channel 93.5 Red FM, an unnamed stadium manager denied any mismanagement. He stated that people were unjustly criticising the facility. “The Afghanistan team arrived on August 30 and played a three-day game from 1-2 September, scoring over 300 runs. We delivered the pitch as per coach Jonathan Trott’s demand,” he said. He further attributed the problems to the weather, noting that even the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi had to cancel matches due to heavy rain. “The showers were so intense that water penetrated the covers, despite them enveloping the entire ground,” he added.
