Day 3 of AFG vs NZ 2024 Test called off even before the 9.30 a.m. start due to persistent rain at Greater Noida
The weather had the final say on Day 3 of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Greater Noida Sports Complex, which was called off on Wednesday, September 11. The first two days had already been lost to a wet outfield, and the stadium had attracted negative attention due to poor facilities.
Persistent rain on the eve of Day 3 and throughout Wednesday morning made the already saturated outfield unplayable. Consequently, umpires Sharfuddoula and Kumar Dharmasena decided to cancel play at 9:15 am, 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of 9:30 am.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board took to their X account to share:
“Not the news we wanted to share! Heavy overnight rain and ongoing drizzle have resulted in Day 3 of the One-Off #AFGvNZ Test being washed out. Officials will assess the conditions again tomorrow morning.”
Although the one-off Test is not part of the World Test Championship cycle, it was eagerly anticipated. Groundsmen have employed various methods to address the wet patches, including using fans, excavating the affected areas, and attempting to replace the sod with artificial and dry grass.
Despite these efforts, no significant improvement has been achieved, and the toss has yet to take place. This is the first time since 2008 that the first three days of a Test match have been abandoned.
The previous instance also featured New Zealand, with Bangladesh as the opposing team, and the game was held in Dhaka.
New Zealand to tour Sri Lanka after the AFG Test
Following their one-off Test against Afghanistan, the Blackcaps are set for an extensive subcontinent tour. Tim Southee’s team will first head to Sri Lanka to play a two-Test series, with the opening match starting on September 18 and the second Test beginning on September 26, both scheduled to take place in Galle.
Afterward, New Zealand will return to India for a three-Test series. The series will kick off on October 16 in Bengaluru, with the second Test starting on October 24 in Pune, and the final match scheduled to begin on November 1 in Mumbai.