The frustration is mounting in Greater Noida as the second day of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand remains delayed due to a soggy outfield. Despite no rain for two consecutive days, the toss has yet to take place. The outfield is in a sorry state, and fans have even been enlisted to help dry it out! This is a disheartening start to the second day at the Greater Noida Stadium.
The first day of the match, unfortunately, was washed out without a single ball bowled. Although the weather cleared throughout Monday, the ground staff at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium failed to prepare the pitch in time. The stadium, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, lacks modern facilities, including adequate manpower, which was evident in the ground staff’s struggle to get the field ready. The match referee was forced to call off play around 4 PM IST.
Both teams, media, and spectators have been left waiting, testing their patience. The dampness near the mid-on area was a particular concern for the visiting team, as Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, and Rachin Ravindra inspected the pitch. Even though rollers were brought in and sawdust spread, the situation didn’t improve significantly.
Adding to the frustration, there has been miscommunication between the stadium authorities and the ACB, with the venue lacking basic amenities like drinking water and toilets. The ACB’s official photographer even stepped in to distribute packed lunches to the media. Despite the challenges, the ACB officials remain optimistic that things will improve over the remaining four days. An ACB source said, “We had laid out a plan and shared it with the stadium authorities well in advance, but things were in a mess. But we have taken things under our control and hopefully, there will be no such problems going forward.”
This is not the first time the Greater Noida stadium has faced criticism for its poor infrastructure. Hosting its first international fixture since March 2020, the venue has again fallen short. Sources suggest the ACB may request the BCCI for a different home venue for future matches. This situation underscores the need for improved facilities and proper planning to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for players, fans, and everyone involved.
