Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test in limbo due to poor facilities in ...

Afghanistan vs New Zealand, one-off Test: Poor facilities and lack of proper planning have hampered the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex's Test debut. The Greater Noida stadium has come under the scanner after the opening day of the Test was washed out and the start of the second day was delayed due to a wet outfield.

Ground staff at Greater Noida stadium try and prepare the outfield for the one-off Test (PTI Photo)

The much-anticipated one-off Test between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh seems to be in limbo due to substandard infrastructure, including a poor drainage system, at the cricket ground. After the opening day of the Test match was washed out due to rain on Monday, September 9, the start of the second day's play was delayed on Tuesday morning due to a wet outfield.

The woeful facilities and drainage system at the Greater Noida stadium have come under severe scrutiny. Greater Noida has been witnessing persistent rain over the last few days. Afghanistan and New Zealand struggled to complete practice sessions in the lead-up to the Test due to the soggy condition of the outfield. Despite clear weather on Monday morning, overnight rain had left the outfield wet.

The on-field umpires had as many as six inspections on Day 1 before calling it off.

The field, particularly around the mid-on and mid-wicket areas, was rendered unplayable as large patches of soggy, muddy outfield posed a significant risk for players. Ground staff scrambled to manage the situation, resorting to covering the affected areas with sawdust. However, these makeshift efforts were far from adequate.

On Tuesday, a concerning sight was the staff digging up sections of the outfield and filling them with dry soil and grass in a desperate attempt to make it playable. The affected area stretched around two-three feet, and even with these efforts, the outfield remained far from suitable for Test match conditions.

Although rain began only late in the evening on Day 1, it worsened the already damp outfield. An inspection was scheduled for noon on September 10, but both teams, anticipating another delay, remained in their hotels.

Ground staff, numbering around 20-25, including 15 outsourced workers, were seen battling the conditions with inadequate resources.

Despite the availability of five super soppers (two automatic and three manual), the drying process was slow and inefficient. Covers—three 30-yard and five larger 80x60 sheets—were in place, but reports suggested that some of these had been rented from a local tent house, reflecting the lack of readiness and proper planning.

The absence of a robust drainage system has raised significant questions about the stadium's infrastructure. While rain is a common disruptor in cricket, most modern venues are equipped to handle such interruptions swiftly. However, the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex’s lack of preparedness for rain has hurt the venue's reputation.

Umpires conducted multiple inspections on Day 1, while New Zealand players, including captain Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra, ventured out to assess the ground's condition. Although there were brief periods of sunlight, hopes for play were dashed by midday when both Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott and Kane Williamson showed clear disappointment with the ground's state.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was reportedly unhappy with the stadium's facilities. The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, hosted a pink-ball Duleep Trophy match in 2016. The venue has previously served as Afghanistan's home ground, hosting five ODIs, three T20Is in 2017, and three more T20Is in 2020.

As of now, with two days of play significantly affected, questions loom large over the venue’s capability to recover, as both teams wait for the conditions to improve and for the Test match to get underway finally.