The ground crew at the Greater Noida stadium is having difficulty getting the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand underway.
The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand is a complete and total mess; it hasn’t even started yet. The Test’s sixth session ought to be underway by now, but the two captains haven’t even shown up for the toss, even though it hasn’t rained.
The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in the city, which is obviously unfit to handle a Test match, appears to be the cause of this disaster. Things are so disorganized that the players haven’t even arrived at the location. From the press box’s lack of basic amenities—tents that were moved after complaints—to the ground crew’s incapacity to get the field ready for play.
Afghanistan uses the stadium in Greater Noida as their home field. The stadium was granted permission by the ICC in December 2016 to host full member matches. Although it has hosted two ODIs and two T20Is between 2017 and 2020, the quality of facilities offered is inadequate. Members of the Afghanistan Cricket Board are obviously furious; some have even vowed never to visit the location again.
“We’re never coming back here because of this enormous mess. The facilities here also don’t sit well with the players. An ACB official stated, “We had communicated with the concerned parties well in advance and were given the assurance by the stadium staff that everything will be in order (with regard to the media facilities).” Nothing has altered since our arrival. It’s not at all improved,” remarked someone else.
Strange strategies being used by ground crew
Despite not being a part of the current World Test Championship cycle, the Test is still an international event. On Tuesday, things came to a head when it was discovered that the ground crew was rushing to guarantee play and resorting to extreme means. In one of the most bizarre scenes ever seen, some of the members went to the practice area, uprooted the grass—tarpaulin—and transplanted it into the wet patches. Meanwhile, portable electric fans were used to dry up the wet areas on the ground. The spectators were in complete shock that parts of the ground had to be dug up as a result.
The BCCI had suggested that the players train in places like Lucknow and Dehradun because of the ongoing problems in Afghanistan. Afghanistan had originally wanted to play this Test match in either of the two cities, but Greater Noida was the only choice because local leagues were being played in both Lucknow and Dehradun.
The Afghanistan captain had voiced some reservations about the venue’s infrastructure prior to the Test match. “We are from India, and we have hosted more international cricket teams here. In India, hopefully, we’ll find a suitable location, and if we stick to that one, it will work out well for us. “Perhaps the BCCI and the ACB will secure a suitable location for us,” Hashmatullah Shahidi had stated.
Not a drop of rain has fallen, but the ground and its operations still frustrate. Although there is an official inspection scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, it wouldn’t be shocking if the second day is also rained out.
