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The much-anticipated one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida was thrown into disarray due to a combination of inclement weather and what appears to be inadequate stadium management. Despite the intermittent rain, the lack of preparedness at the venue became glaringly obvious, raising serious questions about the competency of the ground staff and the overall organization of the event.
The insufficient number of covers left the outfield damp and unplayable, while a deficient drainage system led to the formation of substantial water puddles across the ground. These issues, coupled with the evident lack of timely action to prepare the pitch, further exposed the shortcomings of the stadium's management team. The Greater Noida Authority, responsible for the venue's upkeep, only stepped in to inspect the situation after media reports highlighted the mismanagement.
However, despite the glaring evidence, the venue manager refused to acknowledge the shortcomings. In an interview with a radio channel, the unnamed manager attributed the delays solely to the rain and dismissed criticism as stemming from a need for sensationalized content. He even went so far as to claim that Afghanistan had played a three-day intra-squad match on the ground in September, scoring over 300 runs, and that the pitch had been delivered according to the demands of coach Jonathan Trott.
However, a closer examination of the facts reveals a significant discrepancy between the manager's claims and the official records. While it is true that Afghanistan has played a number of matches at the Greater Noida venue, none of them took place during the monsoon season. Additionally, the Duleep Trophy, a tournament featuring renowned Indian players, was held at the venue in August and September 2016 without any rain-related disruptions, further contradicting the manager's assertion about heavy, persistent rainfall being the sole cause for the delays.
The manager's attempt to shift blame to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) by stating that they should have been aware of the venue's susceptibility to rain and should not have approved it as a host, also falls flat. The ACB, in its defense, pointed out that the covers provided by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) were insufficient to cover the entire ground, leaving parts exposed to the downpour. The seepage of water from these uncovered areas further hampered the ground's preparation.
The events surrounding the delayed Afghanistan-New Zealand Test expose a clear pattern of mismanagement and a blatant disregard for facts by the Greater Noida stadium management. While the rain undoubtedly played a role, the inadequacies of the venue's infrastructure and the lack of proactive measures by the authorities contributed significantly to the delays, causing inconvenience to the teams, the media, and the spectators alike. The venue manager's attempt to deflect blame and downplay the seriousness of the situation raises further concerns about the commitment to ensuring a seamless and successful event.
Source: 'Not Our Fault, People Need Content': Noida Stadium Manager Dismisses AFG vs NZ Test Mismanagement