The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand has made headlines for the wrong reasons. Scheduled to be held at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, the first two days were washed out, despite no rain during the match itself. Although it rained before the game, there were no showers on Days 1 and 2.
According to sources, miscommunication and poor management between the stadium authorities and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) caused the chaos. An ACB official expressed frustration, stating, “This is a huge mess, we are never coming back here. The players are unhappy with the facilities.”
The ACB had requested to host the match in Lucknow or Dehradun, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected the request, offering Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium and Kanpur’s Green Park instead. “Lucknow was our first choice, Dehradun second, but both were unavailable due to T20 leagues. This was the only option left,” the official told the Indian Express.
The official also highlighted that Afghanistan’s stadiums now offer better facilities than Greater Noida. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi echoed the disappointment, saying, “The facilities haven’t changed in four years.”
Despite efforts from the ground staff, inadequate drainage meant little could be done to prepare the pitch. The BCCI has not hosted domestic games at this venue since the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the match referee’s report could end any future hopes of top-level matches being held there. Under the ICC’s ‘Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process,’ match referee Javagal Srinath’s report will play a key role in the ground’s future.