New Delhi: For the first time, a Test match on Indian soil was abandoned without a ball being bowled on any of the five days.
If you are wondering which Test match this was, well, it didn’t involve Team India.
Afghanistan and New Zealand were scheduled to play their maiden Test at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in Greater Noida from September 9 to 13, 2024. But heavy rains and wet field prevented any action before the Test match was ultimately abandoned on Friday morning.
It was only the eighth instance of a Test match having been washed out without any cricket being played in its 147-year history (See list below). Two games each were washed out in England and New Zealand, 1 each in Australia, West Indies, Pakistan and India.
Why Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test in India?
Since being granted Test-playing status by International Cricket Council in 2017, Afghanistan have not been able to play in their own country, which has been ravaged by war and is currently under Taliban rule.
Of the 9 (counting the recent abandoned game) five-day red-ball matches Afghans have been involved in so far, 3 were on Indian soil as they chose India as one of their ‘home’ country. Rashid Khan & Co. have played a handful of ODIs also in India.
Controversy over Greater Noida as venue
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) offered Afghanistan board options like like Bengaluru and Kanpur to host New Zealand. Afghans, however, chose Greater Noida due to its vicinity to New Delhi.
The elements decide to play truant.
But several questions have been raised over the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground following the complete washout.
It was mostly sunny on the first two days, yet play was not possible due to the wet outfield which umpires thought could be dangerous for the players. Drainage facilities weren’t the best and the teams also pointed that there was a shortage of ground staff.
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott was disappointed with the condition of the ground.
He also questioned scheduling of the Test in the middle of monsoon.
“To try and play a Test match this time of year is always tricky. We were very excited to play against New Zealand and put ourselves up against the challenge. We had played warm-up games and matches and got ourselves accustomed to the conditions and weather, which is very unique here. Unfortunately, the weather has played its part,” he lamented.
Though Afghans played international games at this venue before, they are unlikely to return here in future.
ABANDONED TEST MATCHES IN 147-YEAR HISTORY
1. Old Trafford, Manchester –Aug 25-27, 1890, Eng vs Aus
2. Old Trafford, Manchester — July 8-12, 1938, Eng vs Aus
3. Melbourne Cricket Ground — Dec 31, 1970 to Jan 5, 1971, Aus vs Eng
4. Carisbrook, Dunedin — Feb 3 to 7, 1989, New Zealand vs Pakistan
5. Bourda Oval, Georgetown — March 10 to 14, 1990, West Indies vs Eng
6. Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad — Dec 17 to 21, 1998, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
7. Carisbrook, Dunedin — Dec 18 to 22, 1998, New Zealand vs India
8. Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground — Sep 9 to 13, 2024, Afghan vs New Zealand
