Afghanistan vs New Zealand one-off Test called off without toss on ...
Afghanistan vs New Zealand: Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida
The historic one-off Test between New Zealand and Afghanistan was called off due to inclement weather and a wet outfield at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida on Friday, September 13.
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"It is still raining in Greater Noida and due to frequent rains, the 5th and final day of Afghanistan vs New Zealand test has been also called off by the match officials," Afghanistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
Afghanistan, having displayed excellent form in limited-overs cricket, was expected to provide a tough contest. However, no play occurred, not even the toss, as weather conditions prevented the game from starting.
This Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test became the first match in the 21st century to end without a single ball being bowled.
Here are the 7 Test matches that were abandoned without a single ball being bowled -
Five days of interrupted play:
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Day 1: Contrary to the weather forecast, there was bright sunshine throughout the day. However, the match officials did not call for the captains to toss due to a wet outfield and damp patches within the 30-yard circle. Eventually, the day's play was called off in the evening.
Day 2: Despite the absence of rain, heavy overnight showers lasting nearly an hour worsened ground conditions. Although several inspections took place, and some player activity was observed on Day 2, the second day witnessed desperate efforts from the groundsmen to make the field playable.
The groundsmen continued their attempts, including replacing muddy patches with dry grass and deploying pedestal fans to address the damp areas. Despite these efforts, the ground conditions were still not deemed fit for international cricket. Play was eventually called off for the second day around 3 PM IST. Afghanistan officials commended the groundsmen's efforts, noting that persistent rain had worsened the situation.
Following the abandonment of play on Day 2, the groundsmen’s attempts continued, but they proved futile as incessant rain began on the morning of Day 3.
The muddy area around mid-wicket was replaced with dry grass patches to speed up the drying process. Pedestal fans were also deployed to address the damp patches, which remained a significant concern for the match officials. Despite these efforts, the ground conditions were still not deemed fit for international cricket.
Ultimately, the one-off historic Test was called off on Day 5.
Greater Noida Stadium is managed by the Greater Noida Development Authority, not the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association.
Questions raised over Greater Noida Stadium management
Greater Noida's Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium faced scrutiny after the first two days of the match were abandoned despite clear weather. Questions were raised regarding the 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 ACB was responsible for choosing the venue.
"They wanted Kanpur, but we are hosting a Test match there, so that was not possible. Bengaluru was not logistically feasible for the ACB. We have two stadiums in Mohali as well, but logistics were again the issue. For them, playing in Delhi-NCR was more suitable, and since they had played at the venue before, the ACB opted for the Greater Noida Sports Complex," Dhumal was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
BCCI's 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.
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