Image Source: PTI — The Afghanistan-New Zealand Test match at Shaheed Vijay Pathik Sports Complex never took off and was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
In a turn of unfortunate events, the much-anticipated Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida has been called off. The continuous rain showers over the past three days in the Delhi-NCR area ultimately led to the cancellation. This marks the eighth occasion in cricket history where a Test match was abandoned without a single ball bowled across all five days.
For cricket fans and players alike, the hope for even a short game scenario evaporated as the prolonged downpour dashed any chances of action. Early on, those involved held on to some optimism. The first couple of days had some sunshine, bringing a glimmer of hope. However, the drainage facilities proved inadequate, preventing any play from starting. As the rains continued, the match officials deemed it impossible to proceed, making the rare decision to call off the entire game without even the toss taking place.
“It is still raining in Greater Noida, and due to frequent rains, the 5th and final day of the Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test has also been called off by the match officials,” read an official statement from the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
History of Abandoned Test Matches
This unfortunate incident adds another entry to the short list of Test matches that have suffered a similar fate. Here’s a look at previous occasions when Test cricket was completely thwarted by weather:
- England vs Australia, Old Trafford (Manchester) in 1890: The earliest record of such an incident took place at the Old Trafford ground, almost shutting down the entire cricket enthusiasm of the era.
- England vs Australia, Old Trafford (Manchester) in 1938: History repeated itself 48 years later at the same venue with similar damp spirits.
- Australia vs England, Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1970: Even the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground could not withstand the weather gods, resulting in another abandoned match.
- New Zealand vs Pakistan, Carisbrook (Dunedin) in 1989: The beautiful Carisbrook stadium saw no action between these two teams due to heavy rains.
- West Indies vs England, Bourda (Georgetown) in 1990: Torrential rains meant fans in Georgetown were left without any cricket to enjoy.
- Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Iqbal Stadium (Faisalabad) in 1998: Not even Faisalabad’s famous crowds could push the match to take off thanks to stubborn weather conditions.
- New Zealand vs India, Carisbrook (Dunedin) in 1998: A second unfortunate occurrence for Dunedin in the same decade underlined the unpredictable weather of the region.
- Afghanistan vs New Zealand, Greater Noida in 2024: Now adding to this rare list, Greater Noida’s unruly weather has left cricket lovers and players eyeing better fortunes next time.
The Implication of Weather
This abandonment adds to the growing conversations about how weather impacts sports. The heartbreak felt by both the Afghanistan and New Zealand teams reflects the fragility of sports facing natural elements. Even with advancements in technology and improvements in stadium infrastructure, nature occasionally has the final say.
What’s Next?
For fans who were eagerly awaiting this match, it’s a test of patience. Both teams will now look to future tours and matches to prove their skills on the cricket field. The untapped excitement, skills, and strategies will hopefully find expression in the games to come.
More updates may surface regarding rescheduling or compensation efforts for fans. But as always, cricket moves forward, learning from each unexpected turn.
Further announcements and developments will be closely followed by teams and fans alike. In the meantime, cricket lovers turn their attention to other ongoing and upcoming matches, hoping for better weather and uninterrupted play.
Stay tuned for more updates on International cricket events and other sports news. For now, reflect on another instance where cricket and nature shared an untimely clash, leading to a complete washout.
