Noida Complex comes under scrutiny due to poor infrastructure with regards to the outfield and drainage systems.
Noida Complex was the host for the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand. However, not a single ball has been bowled so far.
There are genuine concerns about the entire game being washed off at this point. For the record, there has not even been a toss as of yet.
The situation at present is so dire that even the ACB have admitted that chances of any action are very bleak.
“If it rains like this, no venue is going to be able to host a game”, said the ACB manager.
Questions have been asked as to why has there been no cricket despite clear weather in the mornings.
It has now been revealed that the Noida outfield is not sand-based, which leads to delays in drying the entire ground.
The drainage system of the ground has also been overwhelmed due to incessant rains in and around the stadium.
The main square and the practice pitches were the only areas that could be protected. Pockets in the inner circle like midwicket and mid-off are all understood to be slippery.
An official present at the venue said the top layer began moving underfoot making it risky and unfit for play.
Ibrahim Zadran slipped during practice and twisted his ankle, which has ruled him out of the Test. ACB officials believe that the outfield was the reason for the injury.
As the host, it is ACB’s duty to make sure the location is appropriate. The BCCI has been assisting by providing “extra machinery,” according to a statement from the ACB, in order to provide “ideal conditions.”
It’s understood that on Tuesday, Ankit Dutta, the curator of Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, travelled to Greater Noida.