The historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was marred by deplorable conditions at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, leading to the cancellation of the opening day’s play.
Despite the absence of rain throughout Monday, the subpar drainage and woeful facilities rendered the outfield unplayable. The inexperienced ground staff struggled to prepare the field, with the sack of sawdust proving more active than the players.
Umpires conducted six inspections throughout the day, with New Zealand players, including skipper Tim Southee, assessing the conditions. However, the mid-on and mid-wicket areas remained a concern, along with patches within the 30-yard circle.
The lack of modern facilities extended beyond the field, impacting operations off the pitch. The venue lacked a proper media stand and adequate seating for fans. Accredited media faced inconveniences such as a lack of water, power supply, and access to a female washroom.
The absence of a public announcement system left fans unaware of the situation. Poor communication and mismanagement between the stadium authority and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) further exacerbated the situation.
“This is a huge mess, we are never coming back here. The players are also unhappy with the facilities here,” said an ACB official.
The stadium, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, has a history of hosting matches marred by controversy. It was banned by the BCCI in 2017 due to match-fixing during corporate matches.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had previously urged the BCCI and ACB to arrange a suitable home venue for the team. “India is our home, and when we host teams, other nations have played more cricket here,” he said.
Despite not being part of the World Test Championship, the Test is an ICC-affiliated tournament. The stadium’s shortcomings have raised questions about the BCCI’s role in ensuring adequate facilities for international matches.
