Afghanistan-NZ Test faces complete washout after third day lost

GREATER NOIDA: The third day of the only Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off because of rain on Wednesday, with the match in danger of being washed out without a ball being bowled.

Afghanistan’s adopted home ground outside India’s capital at Greater Noida has been beset by problems, with rain falling since Tuesday night on an already waterlogged outfield that caused the first two days to be lost.

The venue, which is hosting its first Test, has come under scrutiny for lacking world-class facilities and basic drainage. Electric fans have been used in desperate attempts to make sodden patches playable at the ground, which saw dry weather and sunshine on the previous two days.

Ground staff dug up one wet area refilling it with dry soil and laying fresh turf. Afghanistan have hosted several T20 and one-day internationals since 2017 at the venue and their cricket board have defended their choice of Greater Noida.

“We considered three potential venues in India -- Bengaluru, Kanpur, and Greater Noida,” they said Tuesday, noting the first two were “unavailable due to BCCI’s domestic matches”. It is only Afghanistan’s 10th Test match. Tim Southee’s New Zealand are due to travel on to Sri Lanka for two Tests beginning next week before returning for three more against India.