Ground staff at the Greater Noida stadium in Uttar Pradesh, India, resorted to desperate measures on Tuesday as they attempted to dry out the pitch for the Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand. The match, which was scheduled to begin on Monday, has been delayed due to incessant rainfall and the poor condition of the ground.
Despite the sunshine on Tuesday, the outfield remained soaked, and the chances of play appeared slim for a second consecutive day. On Monday, the New Zealand players were seen throwing rugby balls around as they waited for play to resume, but both teams spent the morning of Tuesday marooned at their hotels.
Groundsmen dragged out tarpaulin to cover areas of the pitch in anticipation of more rain, while others held electric fans over some of the worst wet patches. They also dug up a wet patch in the cover-point and mid-wicket region and filled it with dry soil and fresh turf.
Umpires were due to hold another inspection to assess a possible start time at a venue that is hosting its first Test match and where drainage is basic.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered Afghanistan venues to train and host matches outside their troubled nation, including in Lucknow and Dehradun. However, those grounds were busy with local leagues, and Greater Noida was chosen as the venue for this Test.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials have expressed disappointment over the condition of the ground, calling it “a huge mess” and stating that they will not return to the venue in the future.
The Test match is only Afghanistan’s 10th in their history, and the delay has been a major setback for the team. New Zealand, on the other hand, will next travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests before returning for three more against India.
