Afghanistan vs New Zealand, one-off Test: Once banned by the BCCI, an ill-equipped venue awaits Kiwis and Afghans in Greater Noida

Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran twisted his ankle while taking a catch during a fielding drill on the eve of the one-off Test match against New Zealand at the rain-soaked Manuka Oval pitch.

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said they would take a call on Zadran’s availability before the toss but was not impressed with the facility, which used to be home to Afghanistan cricket (ACB). “Ibrahim Zadran has sustained an injury in his ankle. He is being monitored now and we will take a call tomorrow,” he said.

The incessant rain has hampered Afghanistan’s one-week training camp as they only managed to eke out one three-day game instead of the planned two. On the other hand, the New Zealand cricket team’s two practice sessions were completely washed out due to rain and on Sunday, they didn’t even step out for routine fielding drills due to the soggy outfield.

Hear from Kane Williamson and Ajaz Patel ahead of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan scheduled to start in Greater Noida on Monday afternoon NZT. Follow play LIVE in Aotearoa with @skysportnz. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/G1sKFww9eB #AFGvNZ pic.twitter.com/6JrfGDu2OL

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 8, 2024

New Zealand captain Tim Southee has put the ball in match officials’ court on whether the venue is fit to host Test cricket or not. He said: The ground conditions come under the match referee and the officials. They decide whether it is fit enough. So as players, if they say ‘it’s fit’ then we go and play.”

Both soggy and wet conditions will greet Afghanistan and New Zealand at a stadium where drainage is very poor and with the weather forecast not looking good, it is highly unlikely that there will be a possibility of play on Day 1 of the Test match. According to the Accuweather weather forecast, there is a chance of 44 per cent of rain by 10 am.

The Indian Express had reported last week about the poor drainage, soggy outfields, and flooded practice pitch, which the groundstaff were trying to dry out with table fans.

More rain in Noida means no training has been possible today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow’s first day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan. Play LIVE in NZ from 4:30pm on @skysportnz #AFGvNZ pic.twitter.com/ZlsQ0LqEHz

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 8, 2024

As of Sunday afternoon, final preparations on the pitch were still being completed. In the morning when Afghanistan’s practice session was curtailed due to a heavy drizzle, groundstaff were seen wiping out the water from the covered pitch. Instead of pouring the water in a bucket, they were flushing it out towards the bowler’s run-up. After being pointed out by an ACB official, Amit Kumar Sharma, the curator of the ground, raced towards the pitch with a bucket and a mug, to stop the groundstaff.

Although this Test match doesn’t come under the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, hosting a match at a venue which was banned by the BCCI in 2017, has meant the venue has come under the scanner of the anti-corruption unit of the BCCI.

Afghanistan captain Shahidi didn’t mince his words, saying: “The facility is the same the way it was 4 years ago. Everything is the same, nothing has changed.”

This is the third venue where Afghanistan are hosting a Test match in India. Prior to this, they hosted Ireland and West Indies in 2019. The Ireland game was played in Dehradun, while the West Indies match was played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

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📹: Glimpses from the trophy unveiling ceremony ahead of the One-Off #AFGvNZ Test Match, starting tomorrow in Greater Noida, India. 🤩#AfghanAtalan | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/R4QZMBzw9u

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 8, 2024

“Our first choice was the Lucknow stadium and the second was Dehradun. Our requests were rejected by the BCCI and we were told that both the states are hosting their respective T20 leagues. This was the only ground available and we had no other choice left,” an ACB official told The Indian Express on condition of anonymity.

“You won’t believe me but the stadia in Afghanistan have better facilities than this one. We have improved our infrastructure in the past few years but here as Shahidi has mentioned nothing has changed.”

Afghanistan captain Shahidi admits playing a three-day game at the venue has given them a little bit of an idea about what to expect but at the same time lambasted the ACB and ICC for not giving Afghanistan one fixed venue, so that they can enjoy home conditions.

“India is our home, and when we host teams, other nations have played more cricket here. Hopefully, we will get a good venue here in India and if we restrict ourselves to one venue, it will be effective for us,” he said.

“If you see our records in first-class, it’s good because we play at our home ground. We know those conditions. Hopefully, in the future, there will be a time when teams will travel to Afghanistan and our average will be higher. But for now, hopefully, the ACB and the BCCI will get us a good venue to play Test cricket.”

The ACB, who are supposed to be the hosts also didn’t have any answers as they are yet to find out, where they will put a media stand.

For the fans, entry is free. But there are also no seating arrangements, barring the team’s pavilion and boxes, which consist of hardly 100 seats. And with the weather forecast looking grim, shamianas (makeshift tent houses) are being built across the ground.

“Two days ago, torrential rain and storm blew the covers off. I am not sure whether these makeshift arrangements will be a safe option for the spectators,” said a police constable, who has been at the venue for the past ten days.

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