"Aur choose karo Monsoon mein North India" - Fans react after AFG vs NZ 2024 Test in Noida gets abandoned without a ball bowled
Fans were highly critical of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand being abandoned without a ball bowled in Noida. The first day of the fixture was called off due to overnight rain, despite the ground staff even using the table fan to dry the pitch. The following day saw poor drainage facilities resulting in no play.
Afterward, the persistent rain further added woes to the situation, as the subsequent two days were also called off. On Friday (Day 5), the game was finally abandoned due to a wet outfield. Surprisingly, Noida's forecast had already predicted rain and thunderstorms every day of the Test match, but the lack of modern facilities and readiness severely impacted the game.
As per the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), BCCI gave them three options - Kanpur, Bengaluru, and Noida. However, they chose Noida due to better connectivity with Kabul.
Fans on X lashed out at the BCCI and ACB for choosing Noida amid monsoon season and substandard facilities in the stadium.
One wrote:
"Aur choose karo monsoon m North India m venue."
Here are other reactions:
"It’s hard to believe that such a historic match could be abandoned without even a single ball bowled. I was looking forward to seeing the teams play. It’s just so sad that the weather interfere," one fan said.
"It’s very disappointing that ground management is poor in Noida ground. Its a matter of shame for BCCI internationally. Worst Drainage management," another posted.
Few felt both teams should have returned to their next destinations after the first two days were called off.
"You guys should have returned after Day 2 only. Wasted your 3 days unfortunately," a fan tweeted.
"That decision should of been made 2 or 3 days ago it was clear the ground was never going to be safe enough they needed to make this call earlier n allow both teams to get to there next destinations early find better facilities n train in better weather," another opined.
AFG vs NZ 2024 Test gets registered into the history books
This was only the eighth instance of a Test being called off without a ball being bowled. The last such occasion was between India and New Zealand at Dunedin in 1998. After the game was not possible due to rain in the first three days, the game was abandoned.
The one-off Test was the start of New Zealand's Asian Tour, with them playing Test series in Sri Lanka and India in the coming months. Meanwhile, Afghanistan will lock horns against South Africa in the bilateral ODI series, starting next week.