It was marked as a historic occasion for Afghanistan cricket, as they were all set to face New Zealand for the first time in their Test cricket history. However, what was supposed to be a momentous event has turned into a fiasco at sport’s newest venue, the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. The stadium, brimming with potential, has now been engulfed in questions and doubts about its future, with even the second day of the match witnessing no play.
The chief culprit behind this unfortunate disruption was rain; a mere spell on Sunday evening (September 8) was sufficient to call off the opening day of the Test match. Even though the skies cleared the next day, the conditions on the ground remained damp, posing a significant risk to player safety. The umpires conducted as many as six inspections but eventually decided to abandon the first day around 4 PM local time. Kumar Dharmasena, one of the umpires, elucidated that they had concerns about specific patches within the 30-yard circle, with safety being the primary issue that led to halting the day’s play.
Dharmasena further elaborated, stating, “When you compare it with 10 am till now, there’s an improvement but we’re worried about five to six patches inside the 30-yard circle. One area of the run-up does not look comfortable. It’s a player safety issue. We even saw one player get injured yesterday as well; we know how hard it is. Both of us are concerned.” The injured player Dharmasena referred to was none other than Ibrahim Zadran, who slipped while fielding on the eve of the Test match and sustained a left heel injury. Zadran’s injury has also kept him out of the forthcoming ODI series against South Africa, slated to begin on September 18.
Returning to the sub-standard facilities and the inadequate drainage system at the venue, the scenario took a more woeful turn with yet another spell of rain on Monday evening.
. As a result, play had not commenced on the second day either, and prospects of even conducting a toss appeared bleak.
Adding to the chorus of disgruntlement, the Afghanistan team has also expressed their dissatisfaction with the facilities in Greater Noida, hinting they might not prefer playing at this venue in the future. An Afghanistan team official communicated to ESPNCricinfo that Afghanistan initially desired to host the Test match in Lucknow, Dehradun, or Kanpur. However, this wasn’t feasible due to the T20 leagues being hosted in Lucknow and Dehradun, while Kanpur’s stadium is undergoing preparation for the forthcoming second Test between India and Bangladesh.
The sentiment of dissatisfaction from the Afghanistan team is palpable. The official underscored, “We wished to play the Test match in Lucknow, Dehradun, or Kanpur. But with the engagements in Lucknow and Dehradun, and the preparations in Kanpur, we had no other option but to go with Greater Noida. The facilities here have been disappointing to say the least.”
This situation raises critical questions about the viability of Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground as a future venue for international cricket. The narrative that was intended to be about celebrating a debut Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand has shifted to highlighting glaring infrastructural inadequacies.
Related Stories:
– New Zealand announce squad; captain Devine, Bates set to feature in their 9th Women’s T20 World Cup.
– AFG vs NZ 1st Test, Day 2 Live: Areas of outfield dug up in Greater Noida, next inspection after tea.
– Is Jasprit Bumrah no longer in India’s captaincy plans?
For now, the focus shifts to whether any play will be possible over the next three days of this one-off Test. The eyes of the cricketing world are on Greater Noida, not for the cricket itself, but for what the outcome of this Test debacle means for the stadium’s future as an international cricket venue. Will Greater Noida manage to redeem itself, or will this Test match mark the beginning of the end for its international aspirations? Only time will tell.
