HISTORY created in Greater Noida Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand, 1st Test match in 91 years…

The one-off Test on the Greater Noida Sports Complex between Afghanistan and New Zealand ended in ignominy and created an unwanted record on Friday (September thirteen). With the fifth and final day getting washed out with out a ball being bowled, the Greater Noida one-off Test has prove to be the first Test match in Asia to be completely abandoned brought on by rain with out a ball being bowled.

The last time a full Test match became washed out by rain became in December 1998, when New Zealand hosted India in Dunedin. It must be remembered that the abandoned 1970 Test between Australia and England in Melbourne gave birth to ODI cricket. The Ashes rivals in that contest determined to play a forty-over match on the on the start scheduled Day 5 once the weather had improved, and it became later officially recognised because the first-ever ODI match.

No such event may perchance take place in Greater Noida on Friday because the weather hasn’t relented at all. There became overnight rain as well to rain throughout the early morning on the final day, which left the complete ground throughout the Greater Noida Sports Complex completely sopping wet.

“It truly is miles still raining in Greater Noida and brought on by frequent rains, the fifth and final day of Afghanistan vs New Zealand test has been also most often is named off by the match officials,” an Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) statement read.

The highly anticipated #AFGvNZ Test match became most often is named off with out a ball being bowled brought on by persistent rains in Greater Noida.

While the inaugural #AFGvNZ Test didn’t proceed as expected, #AfghanAtalan look ahead to engaging in more bilateral cricket with @BLACKCAPS in future. p.c.twitter.com/zSVE5Hn2cF

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September thirteen, 2024

Out of the ordinary measures were used to dry the ground this week at Greater Noida with electric fans used on wet patches, outfield being dug up and replaced with new mud and grass. The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) sent their chief curator Ankit Dutta while the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) sent their super soppers to lend a hand in drying the ground over the previous few days.

The venue has witnessed almost unrelenting rain during the last three days starting on Wednesday. But the first couple of days, when there became sunshine, the ground authorities were not ready to get the outfield ready in time to initiate play.

Afghanistan have successfully played six T20 and five ODI matches on the Greater Noida venue since 2017. The Afghans had chosen this ground over venues like Kanpur and Bengaluru offered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) brought on by it’s proximity to the New Delhi international airport and its direct accesibility to flights from Kabul.

The ACB officials have been cautious about criticism, fearing or not it is going to perchance spoil members of the family with the BCCI. Afghanistan have participated in nine prior Tests after getting five-day status in 2017 and made a bruising introduction in 2018 after they lost their debut match to India inside two days.

Tim Southee-led New Zealand, who failed to finish a single training session brought on by the weather, will next trip to Sri Lanka for two Tests earlier than returning for 3 more against India.