AFG vs NZ: Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test in shambles as ground dug up; rented covers, artificial grass delay toss

The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand is yet to begin, despite being scheduled to be held at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida, Delhi, on September 9. The Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test was meant to be a historic encounter, which has turned into a ridiculous event in Greater Noida.

The long-awaited one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand has become a source of frustration and disbelief for both the fans and players, who are stunned by the embarrassing state of the venue—Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium.

Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test delayed due to poor ground conditions in Greater Noida

The chaos began when the first day of the Test was entirely washed out, not due to torrential rains but because of the stadium’s shocking inability to manage a wet outfield. The ground staff was not prepared for the situation, as the heavy rain severely impacted the outfield.

The ground staff hastily started to patch up the field, but their efforts have only worsened the situation. The outfield, particularly around mid-on, was dug up by two to three feet, leaving a muddy mess. In a desperate attempt to fix it, the staff threw dry soil and even laid artificial grass, but the field remains in no condition for play.

Artificial grass patches now being brought in to try and repair the patches at mid on. It is truly becoming a farce. #afg pic.twitter.com/mT2Z3k56tI

— Siddharth Viswanathan (@VishySid84) September 10, 2024

The run-up area for the bowlers was a major area of concern, with the players from both sides being furious at the situation. The entire outfield poses a serious risk of injury, and the makeshift solutions provided by the staff are far from convincing, which is a really alarming situation for the match.

It is being said that there are only 20–25 members on the ground staff, with 15 outsourced personnel, which only adds to the mounting concern. With five supersoppers available—two automatic and three manual—it’s clear that the resources at hand were insufficient.

Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test: Outfield disaster and poor management exposed in Greater Noida

Surprisingly, even the most basic equipment, such as covers and fans, was rented from a tent house, revealing the sheer lack of preparation for the historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand. The bigger question now is: how could such a prestigious game, which was supposed to be a milestone for Afghan cricket, turn into such chaos?

Sad to see that the toss has been delayed.

This is how you prepare for a test match? @ICC @ACBofficials @BLACKCAPS
What is happening on the ground
Yesterday it’s rained for around 2 hours in break. pic.twitter.com/bUspWvsQDc

— Nitin K Srivastav (@Nitin_sachin) September 10, 2024

The organizers have clearly underestimated the importance of a fully functional infrastructure. The stadium’s drainage system has been exposed as severely lacking, and their unpreparedness for rain is nothing short of embarrassing.

On Day 2, after assessing the field conditions, the players from both teams opted to stay back at their hotel, as they were fully aware that the ground wasn’t even remotely ready for the match.

However, some members of the New Zealand team were spotted having a net session on a practice pitch beside the main one, while the ground staff continued their efforts to repair areas on the outfield.

According to Cricbuzz, the match has been rescheduled for 3 PM local time only if the next inspection satisfies the match officials to signal the green light for the one-off Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test in Delhi.