Questions loom large over the stadium's infrastructure with two days of play significantly affected.
The one-off Test between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida seems is awaiting action due to substandard infrastructure, including a poor drainage system at the cricket ground.
After the opening day of the Test match was rained out on Monday (September 9), the start of the second day's play was delayed due to a wet outfield on Tuesday morning.
The poor facilities at the Greater Noida stadium have come under severe criticism. The two teams struggled to complete practice sessions in the lead-up to the Test due to the soggy condition of the outfield.
Even though the weather was clear on Monday morning, overnight rain had left the outfield wet. The on-field umpires had plenty of inspections on Day 1 before calling it off.
The outfield, particularly around the mid-on and mid-wicket areas, was considered unplayable as it posed a significant risk for players. In order to manage the situation, the ground staff resorted to cover the affected areas with sawdust but these makeshift efforts went in vain.
On Tuesday, a concerning sight was the ground staff digging up sections of the outfield and filling them with dry soil and grass in a desperate attempt to start the match. However, the outfield remained far from suitable for Test match conditions.
Meanwhile, both teams remained in their hotels as another inspection was scheduled for noon on September 10.
With two days of play significantly affected, questions loom large over the stadium's infrastructure.
The absence of a robust drainage system has raised significant questions about the stadium's infrastructure. The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, hosted a pink-ball Duleep Trophy match in 2016.
The venue has previously served as Afghanistan's home ground, hosting five ODIs, three T20Is in 2017, and three more T20Is in 2020.
(With India Today Inputs)