AFG vs NZ: Greater Noida Stadium’s fate rests on Javagal Srinath’s report; what happens if ICC deems venue unfit?
The first two days of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand has been called off due to wet outfield caused by persistent rains.
New Delhi: The fate of Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports complex in Greater Noida is contained in the hands of match referee Javagal Srinath after the venue came lower than scanner following the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand failed to get underway on the first two days. Slated to initiate on September 9, the Test match, now now not a single ball has been bowled as none of the teams were ready to step on the field.
To start with, the ground did now now not have a right kind drainage system, and the absence of adequate super sopper or enough ground cover to supply protection to the outfield, or for that matter the lack of adequately trained ground personnel, there are problems aplenty with this venue, which isn’t right away lower than the aegis of BCCI.
Despite the proven fact that the venue comes logically lower than BCCI, on the alternative hand the home board is Afghanistan Cricket Board. In point of fact, the ACB selected familiar and value-effective venue despite being offered the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and Green Park in Kanpur as options.
The BCCI isn’t involved at some point of this Test match. It end as much as be the ACB’s choice and the Greater Noida Authority end as much as be speculated to supply them with international standard facilities. For the unknown, the BCCI hasn’t hosted any of its domestic games here since 2019 (Vijay Hazare Trophy) and are likely to be not very likely to host one in near or distant future in these substandard conditions.
As per the ICC ‘Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process’ that came into effect in November 2023, “After each Match, the Match Referee (Srinath at some point of this case) will complete a Pitch and Outfield Report Form and send it to the ICC Senior Cricket Operations Manager.”
The ‘Pitch and Outfield Report Form’ may be compiled the usage of the guidelines for rating pitches and outfields and, where required, will include comments on the pitch and outfield from the captains of the 2 teams who played and the umpires who officiated contained in the relevant match.
Within 14 days of receipt, the ICC senior cricket operations manager will forward the ‘Pitch and Outfield Report Form’ to the home board, with a copy to the visiting board. The ICC senior cricket operations manager will advise the home board on any demerit points which have been imposed on a host venue.
In line with ICC clause, “If the conditions are such that the Match Referee has induce to rate the pitch and/or outfield Unsatisfactory or Unfit, a corresponding collection of Demerit Points may be imposed upon the Host Venue as outlined contained in the guidelines for rating pitches and outfields.”
Demerit Points will remain active for a rolling 5-year period. If the Greater Noida venue accumulates a whole of six (6) or more demerit points, its accreditation to host international matches may be suspended for a period of 365 days.
Nevertheless, if one goes through ICC rules, for a single Test match, if both pitch and outfield are deemed “unfit” by match referee, then it'd get three demerit points and it'd take yet another such game to get the venue suspended.
With Agency Inputs
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