AFG-NZ Test set for complete washout; Day 4 called off
The one-off Test Afghanistan and New Zealand scheduled at the the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida is on the brink of being washed out. Persistent rain marred the fourth day's play after the first three days were abandoned. "The fourth day of the only Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand teams is also not going to be played due to continued rainfall," stated the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).
ACB to decide on match resumption after stadium assessment
The ACB has announced that a decision regarding the resumption of the game will be made after assessing the stadium conditions. "The decision about the start of the game tomorrow morning at 8:00 will be made after the stadium assessment," said ACB. ICC match referee Javagal Srinath has decided to wait until Friday morning before making a final call on whether play can proceed or not.
Wet outfield prevents play, raises questions about venue preparedness
The wet outfield has prevented any action on the field for four days, leading to concerns about the venue's readiness to host such an event. This is particularly notable as it's the first Test being held at this venue. The facility has come under criticism for its lack of basic drainage and other necessary amenities. With more rain predicted in the next two days, the outlook for the match remains uncertain.
Ground conditions and efforts to dry the surface
The Greater Noida ground, hosting its first-ever Test match, had been experiencing significant rainfall ahead of the match. Despite sunny weather on Day 1, the outfield remained waterlogged. On Day 2, the ground staff attempted to remove wet patches and replace them with artificial turf but to no avail. They also used fans and super soppers in an attempt to dry out the field. Furthermore, lack of facilities at the sports complex also impacted off-field operations.
Will the historic Test be washed out?
This is the Afghanistan are hosting New Zealand in a Test match. The venue was chosen by Afghanistan due to logistical reasons. Afghanistan have played only nine Tests since becoming a full-member side in 2017. The series is not part of the 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. As per ESPNcricinfo, only nine matches have been washed out in Test history.
