Greater Noida Stadium, On the first day of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand, not a single ball could be bowled despite the absence of rain throughout the day.
The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex has terrible conditions, including poor drainage, a soggy outfield, and inadequate facilities. Without a ball being thrown, Monday’s first day of the historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off. The first test between the two countries was impacted by rain, preventing New Zealand from finishing even one practice session.
The site remained unaffected by rain on Monday, except for an overnight sprinkle. However, the lack of contemporary amenities made it difficult for the inexperienced ground crew to prepare the pitch, and on opening day, the sawdust sack saw more activity than the players.
The umpires carried out up to six inspections during the day. Along with all-rounders Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra, several other New Zealand players, including captain Tim Southee, stepped onto the pitch to check the conditions.
However, there were multiple places inside the 30-yard circle, and the mid-on and mid-wicket areas appeared to be of concern.
The match appeared to be about to start at one point, with the sun shining brightly. Still, that prospect was scuppered as Kane Williamson stumbled towards the pitch at around 2 pm2 pm IST.
As the groundskeepers labored, even Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, appeared unimpressed. For whatever reason, the Super Soppers didn’t start working until after 1 pm.
At 4 pm, the play for the day was finally canceled. Tomorrow’s toss has been rescheduled for 9 am, and instead of 10 am, there will be 98 overs per day for the next four days.
The ground crew had to use table fans to dry the field in preparation for Afghanistan’s training sessions before the Test.
The lack of contemporary facilities affected activities off the pitch as much as on the ground. The location lacks sufficient fan seating as well as a media stand.
Significant annoyances for the authorized media included power, water shortage, and access to a female lavatory. There was no public notice system, so the fans were also in the dark about what was happening.
There was a shortage of communication and overall mismanagement between the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and the stadium authority.
“We’re never coming back here because of this enormous mess. According to an ACB official, “The players are also unhappy with the facilities here.”
“We had spoken with the concerned people well in advance and were assured by the stadium guys that everything will be in order (about the media facilities),” he continued; the Test is an ICC-affiliated competition even though it isn’t a part of the World Test Championship.
The Greater Noida Stadium Industrial Development Authority oversees the venue and held a Duleep Trophy pink ball match there in 2016.
However, the BCCI prohibited it in September 2017 because of match-fixing during corporate matches. Since then, no BCCI-affiliated match has taken place here.
Afghanistan used to use this stadium as their home pitch.
Nothing has altered since our arrival. Not a single bit has improved,” stated another ACB representative.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, had pleaded with the BCCI and ACB to set up “a good home venue” for the squad before the Test. “India is our home, and other nations have played more cricket here when we host teams,” Shahidi declared the night before the one-time Test matchup with New Zealand.
“Hopefully, we’ll find a suitable location here in India, and if we stick to it, it will work out well for us. “Perhaps the BCCI and the ACB will secure a suitable location for us,” he had stated.
The UP Cricket Association does not govern the stadium. Still, it will be intriguing to watch if BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla can bring discipline to the situation.
Cricket is more than a sport; it’s a feeling, particularly in nations like Afghanistan, where it has been instrumental in fostering happiness and national cohesion. But the Afghanistan cricket team’s recent trip to India left them with a bad taste. The squad chose the Greater Noida Stadium as the location for practice sessions before an important series, and they were outspoken in their displeasure with the amenities there. The predicament has sparked concerns about sporting facilities’ standards and administration, particularly in locations hoping to host international teams.
A Venue of Dreams Becomes a Nightmare
It was anticipated that the Afghanistan team would receive first-rate training at the Greater Noida Stadium, which has been eyed as a potential cricket stadium in India. Regretfully, expectations were not met by reality. A representative for the team described their experience as a “huge mess,” saying they would never think about practicing there again.
What went wrong?
The complaints from the Afghanistan cricket squad result from the problems they ran into at the Greater Noida Stadium. The practice pitches’ terrible state was the main issue. The pitches were allegedly uneven and unsuitable for practice at the international level, even though they should have been carefully prepared. Batsmen struggled with variable bounds, and bowlers had trouble keeping up their rhythm—two things that might impact their form heading into critical matches.
The poor upkeep of necessities exacerbated their difficulties. The players reportedly experienced discomfort due to the small spaces and inadequate airflow in the dressing rooms. Another major worry was how clean the facilities were. Considering the need to uphold hygiene, particularly in light of current worldwide health issues, the crew was shocked by the disarray within the stadium’s grounds.
Effect on Performance and Team Morale
Such unpleasant experiences can severely damage A team’s morale, particularly if they are gearing up for a big series. The Afghanistan cricket team deserves the best facilities to further their talents, as they have demonstrated tremendous improvement in international cricket despite the difficulties at home. Their training regimen may have been interrupted by the unsatisfactory conditions at Greater Noida Stadium, which would have affected their level of readiness for future games.
The Stadium Authorities’ Reaction
The stadium administration has responded to the criticism by releasing a statement acknowledging the concerns brought out by the Afghanistan squad. They have guaranteed that actions are being taken to fix the issues and upgrade the facilities. However, because the squad has made it apparent that they are unwilling to return to the site, harm might already be done.
Wider Consequences for Indian Cricket Grounds
There are more issues with India’s cricket infrastructure due to the Greater Noida event. Even though the nation is home to some of the world’s top cricket stadiums, situations like this draw attention to the inconsistent facility management practices. Any venue that hopes to host international teams must uphold the highest levels of quality if the country is to become the center of cricket globally.
In summary
The experience of the Afghanistan cricket team at the Greater Noida Stadium should serve as a warning to Indian sports facilities managers. Maintaining first-rate facilities is not simply a matter of prestige, but also a matter of honoring the teams that select India as their home for training or competition. Locations like Greater Noida must boost their game to meet international standards as cricket’s popularity grows worldwide. The Afghanistan team’s attitude is “Huge mess, never coming back.” Still, with the correct steps taken, this might change.
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