AFG vs NZ: Greater Noida Stadium exposed, caterer caught cleaning utensils in toilet

The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh has been under serious scanner. The one-off Test between the Afghanistan National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team hasn't been able to start.

This is because of the wet outfield at the Greater Noida stadium. The historic Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand was scheduled to start on Monday (9th September). But the rain on the opening day along with the wet outfield washed out the first day.

To worsen the case more, Day 2 of the game between Afghanistan and New Zealand also was called off due to poor outfield conditions. After the play on the second day got washed out at the Greater Noida stadium, photos of unhygienic conditions on the ground raised more questions.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced massive criticism for the condition of the Greater Noida stadium as many lashed out at them for not making the proper arrangements. To worsen the case more, fresh photos from the stadium has emerged which has put the venue under more scrutiny.

In the picture that has gone viral on the internet, the members of the catering team at the venue were washing utensils in a washroom. The pictures were uploaded by several media outlets which also reported that media at the venue lacked proper seating on the opening day and even water and washroom facilities were substandard.

The catering team at the Greater Noida stadium was washing utensils in a washroom

Here's the picture:

Seen in Greater Noida: Caterers are cleaning utensils in the washroom. 🤯

We can assume the conditions and facilities at this stadium. #AFGvsNZ pic.twitter.com/uRAZrQhsRJ

— Sports With Naveen (@sportscey) September 10, 2024

Toilet tap water was used during the Afg vs NZ test match for the catering service, even though there is no media box and toilet for the media person, they are forced to sit under a tent in this humid weather, even club matches are better than this. @BCCI @ACBofficials pic.twitter.com/gkQLzRLZ97

— vipul kashyap (@kashyapvipul) September 10, 2024

The drainage system at the venue has been terrible. Also, the area around mid-on and mid-wicket saw large patches of soggy, muddy outfield. The ground staff at the stadium were seen working and covering the areas with sawdust.

On the second day of the game, ground staff was seen digging up sections of the outfield and filling them with dry soil and grass in an attempt to make it playable. The affected area stretched around three feet, and even with these efforts, the outfield remained far from suitable for Test match conditions.

Recently, the Afghanistan Cricket Board also expressed their disappointment with the Greater Noida stadium. Not only the team management but also the players were unhappy with the facilities at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex.

A source close to the Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed that the Afghanistan National Cricket Team won't be playing any more cricket at the Greater Noida stadium and instead will prepare to play in Lucknow. Notably, this is Afghanistan's adopted home provided by the BCCI.

This is not the first time the Afghanistan cricket team are playing in the Greater Noida stadium. In 2017, Afghanistan played 3 ODIs and as many T20Is against Ireland and three more T20Is against the same opposition in 2020 at the venue.