Afghanistan Vs New Zealand: Why Lone Afg Vs NZ Test Will Not Hamper ICC World Test Championship Standings

While it appears unlikely that the Afghanistan vs New Zealand one-off Test match in Greater Noida will have any play, here's why the AFG vs NZ Test is not part of the current WTC 2023-25 cycle.

In what was meant to be a landmark moment for the Afghanistan cricket team, as they were supposed to be facing New Zealand in a Test match for the first time, all expectations stayed unfulfilled. The AFG vs NZ Test match, set to be played in Greater Noida, has been delayed due to a wet outfield and there has been no play for the first three days. Also, ahead of the Test match, cricket fans wondered why the AFG vs NZ contest is not part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle.

The Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test match, originally set to begin on September 9, has seen no action in the first three days due to a damp outfield at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground. With inadequate drainage, a lack of sufficient ground covers, and untrained ground staff, it appears highly likely that the match will be abandoned without a single ball being bowled.

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Interestingly, the AFG vs NZ Test, despite being a bilateral match, is not included in the ongoing WTC 2023-25 cycle, here’s the reason behind this.

Why AFG vs NZ Test Won't Affect ICC WTC 2023-25 Standings

As Afghanistan is not one of the nine teams participating in the WTC 2023-25, the Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand is not part of the current WTC cycle.

Out of the 12 Test-playing nations, only nine are involved in the ongoing WTC cycle, while Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe are not included. Afghanistan's exclusion from the WTC stems from their relatively recent entry into Test cricket. Since being granted Test status in 2017, the Afghan team has played only nine Test matches at various venues, with the New Zealand match being their tenth. Consequently, due to the limited number of red-ball games scheduled for them, the Greater Noida Test is not part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

New Zealand, currently ranked third in the WTC 2023-25 standings, will embark on a tour of Sri Lanka for two Tests after the Afghanistan Test. Following their Sri Lanka series, they will return to India for three Tests against the Men in Blue.