 |
|
The much-anticipated one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand was thrown into disarray due to the mismanagement at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida. Despite the inclement weather, the lack of preparedness at the venue, including insufficient covers and a poor drainage system, resulted in a delayed start and continued disruption throughout the match. The heavy rainfall exposed the inadequacies of the ground staff, who struggled to get the field ready in a timely manner.
The Greater Noida Authority, responsible for the venue’s upkeep, only intervened after media reports highlighted the shortcomings. The venue’s manager, however, refused to accept any responsibility for the mismanagement, blaming the heavy rainfall and the need for content among the media. He claimed the Afghanistan team had played a three-day intra-squad match in September 2023 without issues and that the pitch had been prepared according to coach Jonathan Trott’s specifications.
However, the manager's statement clashes with official records. While the Afghanistan team did play matches in Greater Noida in 2017 and 2020, all those matches were ODIs and T20Is, held during a time of year when rainfall is minimal. Furthermore, the Duleep Trophy, a first-class tournament featuring prominent Indian players, was held at the same venue in August and September 2016 without any interruptions due to weather. This evidence suggests that the stadium’s management was not only unprepared for the Test match but also seemed to be unaware of the venue’s past history.
The mismanagement at the stadium has left teams, media, and spectators frustrated. The Afghanistan team, accustomed to playing in the venue, was undoubtedly disappointed by the lack of preparation, and the media has faced difficulties in covering the event. Ultimately, the Greater Noida Authority needs to address the shortcomings and ensure a better experience for future matches at the venue. The venue’s manager’s attempt to shift blame onto external factors while ignoring past successes and evidence only exacerbates the issue and reflects poorly on the stadium’s management.
Source: 'Not Our Fault, People Need Content': Noida Stadium Manager Dismisses AFG vs NZ Test Mismanagement