Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test match cancelled for second consecutive year, pitch, huge mess, what happened, where is it, ground staff, cricket news

During Tuesday's friendly match between Afghanistan and New Zealand, ground staff used electric fans in a desperate attempt to dry the pitch, but play was abandoned for the second day in a row, with one official describing it as a “huge mess”.

The one-off Test, the first ever between the two teams, in Afghanistan's adopted homeland near India's capital New Delhi was due to begin on Monday but the coin toss could not take place due to rain and the poor condition of the pitch in Greater Noida.

On Tuesday, groundskeepers pulled out tarpaulins to cover parts of the pitch in anticipation of further rain, while others waved electric fans over the wettest spots.

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The ground staff dug up a wet outfield area in the mid-wicket area, filled it with dry soil and laid fresh turf.

The referees carried out several inspections and finally abandoned the game in the afternoon.

The venue for the first Test has only basic drainage and has been criticised for its facilities, with The Times of India newspaper describing it as “poorly equipped”.

Despite sunshine on Monday and Tuesday, the outfield was still soaked after days of monsoon rains leading up to the game.

On Monday, New Zealand players were still throwing rugby balls to each other while waiting for a decision, but on Tuesday morning the teams remained in their hotels.

New Zealand, which was unable to hold a pre-Test practice session due to rain, later set up nets on the ground while the batsmen and bowlers completed their drills.

Afghanistan has hosted several Twenty20 and One-Day Internationals in Greater Noida since 2017.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered Afghanistan training and playing venues outside the crisis-ridden country, including in the northern Indian cities of Lucknow and Dehradun.

Lucknow and Dehradun were Afghanistan's preferred options for this Test, but the grounds there were occupied by the local leagues.

The press box in Greater Noida was originally an open tent without internet or electricity, but was relocated after complaints.

Representatives of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) are cautious about the criticism, fearing it could strain relations with the BCCI, but expressed their disappointment.

“This is a huge mess. We will never come back here,” an ACB official was quoted as saying by Indian media.

This is only Afghanistan's tenth five-day match since the team was granted Test status in 2017.

There has been no public reaction from Tim Southee's New Zealand side. The team will next travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests before returning for three more against India.