Groundsmen prepare the field with artificial grass before the start of the one-off Test cricket match between Afghanistan v New Zealand, Greater Noida, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Afghanistan's one-off "home" test against New Zealand near Delhi could not get underway even on day two on Tuesday raising questions about the preparedness of the venue.
Deemed unsafe by touring teams, Afghanistan are forced to play their home matches in venues abroad, including at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sport Complex in Greater Noida.
The venue has a basic drainage system and the ground staff's task became doubly difficult after the region witnessed regular rain in the last two weeks.
For the second day in a row, overnight rain left several damp patches and a wet outfield that did not allow any action.
"Day 2 of the one-off #AFGvNZ Test has officially been called off. Despite multiple efforts to dry the surface, the outfield remained unfit for play," the Afghanistan Cricket Board said on X.
The groundstaff brought chunks of green patches from the practice area and even used standing fans to dry the outfield before match officials called off play.
-Reuters
