The Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, it was assumed, will script history with Afghanistan and New Zealand playing their first-ever Test match against each other. In addition, it was also going to be the maiden Test match for this venue. History it did manage to create. But not for the right reasons.
For beginners, Greater Noida is not a venue that gets to host domestic cricket regularly. For such a stadium to be chosen for a Test match between Afghanistan, the 'home team', and New Zealand in the first place was a bit surprising. But things have started to make some sense with several reports making one revelation after the other.
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With no cricket action possible at the venue on the first two days of the match despite not a single drop of rain, the stadium's lack of ability for cricket at the highest level, or any level of competitive cricket for that matter, was exposed big time.
While there were questions raised over the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sources told ABP LIVE that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) signed a "deal" with the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA), the body responsible for the maintenance of the stadium, "without keeping the BCCI or the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) in loop". With the stadium fiasco, it is now feared that the match will be washed out without a ball being bowled.
The Greater Noida Stadium happens to be a clay-based ground, contrary to most international stadiums which are sand based, making it all the more difficult for a wet stadium to be fit for cricket action, with the teams not even bothering to come to the stadium on Wednesday (September 11).
DDCA Helped Greater Noida Stadium When Faced With Crisis
Notably, while ACB was offered the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur and the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as options, Afghanistan decided to go ahead with Greater Noida. The reason, it is learnt, was twofold — first they had played cricket here before, and second because it reduced their logistical costs, being a two-hour drive from the New Delhi International Airport.
Even though ACB chose the venue themselves despite being aware of the ill-equipped nature of the facility, when asked for help in an emergency situation, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) provided support by sending a super sopper and their pitch curator to assist the Greater Noida Ground staff, much of whom it is being learnt are not trained for the work.
In addition, a full ground cover was also sent but heavy rains overnight and on the morning of Day 3 to go with the already wet outfield meant the damage was already done.
Play Unlikely On Remaining Two Days
The Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sport Complex, which is the other name by which this 2013-built stadium is known as, was built in 2013. It did host the Pink-Ball Duleep Trophy in 2016, besides five T20Is between Afghanistan and Ireland in 2017. However, it received a ban from the apex cricket governing body for hosting private leagues.
As far as the AFG vs NZ Test match is concerned, with three days called off, the ground staff is working hard to make some play possible with a super sopper from Meerut also being arranged. However, given the on-field conditions at present, it seems unlikely that any cricket will be possible in the match.
The stadium's future as an international venue looks bleak with all eyes on the report to be submitted by match referee Javagal Srinath after the completion of the fixture.