NEW DELHI: The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand scheduled at Greater Noida, near New Delhi, was washed out on Friday due to continuous rain for five days. This is the eighth time in Test cricket history that a match has been abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
Heavy rain over the week made the ground too wet for play. Attempts to dry the field, including using electric fans and laying new turf, didn’t work.Although there was some sunshine in the initial days, it did not help.
The match was to be Greater Noida’s first Test. However, concerns were raised about the venue’s basic drainage and facilities even before the match started. Afghanistan chose Greater Noida for its easy access from Delhi airport.
Heavy rain over the week made the ground too wet for play. Attempts to dry the field, including using electric fans and laying new turf, didn’t work.Although there was some sunshine in the initial days, it did not help.
The match was to be Greater Noida’s first Test. However, concerns were raised about the venue’s basic drainage and facilities even before the match started. Afghanistan chose Greater Noida for its easy access from Delhi airport.
Afghanistan cannot host international matches at home due to security issues. Hence, they often use other locations. As per AFP report, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is careful not to criticize the venue, as they aim to keep good relations with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Afghanistan have played nine Tests since getting Test status in 2017 and won three of them. Their next matches are against Sri Lanka and India.
New Zealand, led by Tim Southee, could not even train due to the weather. They will now prepare for their upcoming matches against Sri Lanka and India.
The last time a Test match got completely washed out was in December 1998, when New Zealand hosted India in Dunedin.
Source Agencies
