The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Noida has faced severe criticism after the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand was abandoned due to unplayable ground conditions. Despite four days of scheduled play, not a single ball was bowled, leaving both teams and fans disappointed.
The ground’s condition was a major concern, with wet patches and standing water in various areas. The groundstaff struggled to prepare the surface in time, and the covers proved insufficient to protect the entire ground from heavy rainfall.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) expressed frustration over the infrastructure, while media reports highlighted the mismanagement and lack of preparedness. However, an alleged stadium manager, who remained anonymous, denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking to 93.5 Red FM, the manager claimed that critics were not understanding the situation and that “people want content.” He defended the pitch preparation, stating that it met the demands of Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott.
The manager also pointed to the heavy rainfall as the primary cause of the abandonment, emphasizing that even the nearby Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi had canceled matches due to the downpour. He argued that the Afghanistan team was aware of the ground’s conditions and had trained in rainy conditions.
Despite the manager’s explanations, the stadium’s reputation has been tarnished. The incident has raised questions about the quality of infrastructure and the ability of Indian stadiums to host international matches during the monsoon season.
