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Afghanistan‘s inaugural Test match against New Zealand, a landmark occasion for the country’s cricket history, was overshadowed by a series of unfortunate events. The match, which was scheduled to take place at the Greater Noida Stadium, was marred by poor pitch conditions and organizational issues.
Behind the scenes drama
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had expressed concerns about the suitability of the Greater Noida Stadium for hosting a Test match. Despite their preference for venues in Lucknow or Dehradun, they were forced to accept the Greater Noida option due to the BCCI’s scheduling conflicts. The ACB officials were reportedly disappointed with the decision, citing the superior facilities available in Afghanistan.
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A day of disappointment for Afghanistan
The second day of the Test match was abandoned due to persistent rain and a poorly prepared pitch. Despite efforts to dry the outfield and improve the conditions, the umpires deemed the ground unplayable. The situation was described as a “huge mess” by one official, highlighting the shortcomings of the venue’s infrastructure.
“Everyone, including the ground authorities, have worked hard, even if it had been any other venue, they would have struggled to get it back on time,” Menhajuddin Naz, the ACB international cricket manager, told reporters.
Naz also told that they had been offered to host the Test in the Green Park stadium of Kanpur or the Chinnaswamy stadium o♕f Bengaluru but had opted for Greater Noida.
“We chose Greater Noida as it was most convenient in terms of logistics. It was closer to Delhi and also connectivity from Kabul was better,” he added.
New Zealand’s perspective over the issue
Tim Southee’s New Zealand, who had been unable to train properly due to the poor weathe﷽r, set up nets on the ground and conducted drills. However, the Kiwi players were undoubtedly frustrated by the circumstances surrounding their debut Test against Afghanistan.
A tarnished historic Test
Afghanistan’s Test debut was a bittersweet experience. While the team’s participation in the longest format of the game was a significant milestone, the poor conditions and organizational issues surrounding the match left a sour taste in the mouths of many. The ACB will undoubtedly be hoping for a more positive experience in their future Test matches.
