Afghanistan Criticizes Greater Noida Stadium Facilities: 'Huge Mess, Never Coming Back'

Photo : AP

The opening day of the historic one-off Test between Afghanistan and  was marred by severe issues at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida. Despite no rain affecting the venue on Monday, not a single ball was bowled due to deplorable conditions, including subpar drainage and a sodden outfield.

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The Test, which was the first-ever encounter between the two nations, faced major disruptions right from the start. Heavy overnight showers had already compromised the field, and the ongoing absence of modern facilities exacerbated the problem. Ground staff, struggling with inadequate equipment and resources, were unable to prepare the field effectively. A sack of sawdust saw more action than the players on Day 1, leading to frustration among players and officials alike.

Umpires conducted six inspections throughout the day, and several players, including captain Tim Southee and all-rounders Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra, inspected the pitch personally. Despite a sunny spell around midday, which raised hopes of play, these were soon dashed. Even Afghanistan’s coach Jonathan Trott expressed dissatisfaction as the groundsmen continued to struggle. The Super Sopper, a key tool for drying the field, only began operation after 1 p.m.

The day's play was eventually called off at 4 p.m. The toss for the next day has been rescheduled to 9 a.m., with the remaining four days to feature 98 overs each, starting at 9:30 a.m. instead of the planned 10 a.m.

Operational issues extended beyond the field. The stadium lacked a proper media stand, adequate fan seating, and essential facilities. Accredited media faced significant inconveniences, including a lack of water, power supply, and female washrooms. Fans were also left in the dark due to the absence of a public announcement system. The mismanagement between the stadium authority and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was glaring.

An ACB official expressed frustration, saying, "This is a huge mess, and we are never coming back here. The players are also unhappy with the facilities." The official added that despite assurances from the stadium management regarding media facilities, nothing had improved since their last visit.

The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, had previously hosted a pink ball Duleep Trophy match in 2016. However, it was banned by the BCCI in September 2017 due to match-fixing scandals and has not hosted any BCCI-affiliated matches since.

Afghanistan had previously used the stadium as its home ground. Prior to the Test, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had urged the BCCI and ACB to ensure a better venue. "India is our home, and when we host teams, other nations have played more cricket here," Shahidi had remarked, hoping for a better venue arrangement.

The situation underscores a significant need for improvements in facilities, especially considering the growing prominence of cricket venues in India. The BCCI, under Vice President Rajiv Shukla, will need to address these concerns to ensure future matches are conducted smoothly.

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