AFG-NZ Test Day 3 Cancelled Due to Rain

The Afghanistan-New Zealand Test match at the Greater Noida Sports Complex was marred by incessant rain, leading to the cancellation of the third day’s play. The match, which had already seen the first two days completely wasted without a single ball being bowled, suffered further disappointment on September 10, when the umpires ruled the conditions unplayable at 9:15 am.

Heavy rain fell for two to three hours the previous evening, followed by another downpour early Wednesday morning, rendering the pitch unplayable. Umpires Sharfuddoula and Kumar Dharmasena decided to abandon the match before the scheduled 9.30am start, with broadcasters indicating a “bleak outlook” for the remainder of the Test.

Location Control and Management Response

The current weather problems have sparked criticism over the choice of venue, with many questioning its ability to recover from the adverse conditions. Menhajuddin Raz, the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s chief cricket officer, spoke about the situation, saying: “There is no blame on anyone, it is just very bad luck.”

The Test match marks a significant moment for Afghanistan, being only their tenth since they were granted Test status in 2017. For New Zealand, it is the start of a tour of the subcontinent that includes two Tests in Sri Lanka and three in India, although this match is not part of the World Test Championship.

The abandonment of the first three days of this Test is a rare event in cricket history. The last time the first three days of a Test match were completely abandoned was in 2008, when Bangladesh hosted New Zealand in Mirpur. This Greater Noida Test could potentially join the ranks of seven other matches that have been abandoned without a ball being bowled, the last being in 1998.

Future prospects and challenges

As the rain continues to fall, the chances of the match being played in the remaining days of the Test match look increasingly slim. The Afghan team, eager to showcase their talents against a top opponent like New Zealand, must scramble to find alternative venues for the upcoming matches.

“It’s a two-hour drive…” Afghanistan team reveals why they chose Greater Noida as New Zealand Test venue

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed disappointment over the facilities, saying: “The facilities are the same as they were four years ago. Everything is the same, nothing has changed.” An Afghanistan Cricket Board official echoed these sentiments, pointing out that their own stadiums have better facilities than the Greater Noida Sports Complex.

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