BCCI Only Offered Us...," Afghanistan Cricket Breaks Silence on Greater Noida Stadium Controversy

The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand, being held at the Greater Noida Stadium, has come under heavy criticism due to continuous rain, which has prevented any play since the match started. The wet conditions at the stadium have raised concerns over the decision to choose this venue, as it has been unable to adequately dry the field, leading to widespread frustration.

Afghanistan Cricket Responds to Venue Criticism

Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) International Cricket Manager, Mehnazuddin Raj, addressed the criticism, explaining the reasons behind selecting Greater Noida Stadium as the venue for this high-profile match. Speaking to reporters, Raj stated, "The BCCI offered us three venues: Kanpur, Bengaluru, and Greater Noida. We chose Greater Noida because it was logistically the most convenient, being just a two-hour drive from Delhi airport."

Raj further explained that Greater Noida had been Afghanistan's home ground since 2016, and they had successfully played several matches there without issue. "We played a three-day match here with a local team, and everything went smoothly. The problems began when the rain started," Raj added.

Rain Dampens the Match and Venue Preparations

Rain has been relentless since the match's start, and the stadium’s facilities have struggled to cope with the wet conditions. Afghanistan Cricket’s decision-making is under scrutiny, as the venue's lack of proper drainage has been blamed for the delayed play. However, Raj defended the choice, saying, "We conducted a venue inspection four to six months ago, and even the visiting team did their checks. There were no issues at the time."

Despite efforts to find alternative venues due to the weather, Raj acknowledged that the continuous rain made it impossible to relocate the match. "We considered moving the match to another venue, but the heavy rains across regions ruled out that option as well," he explained.

The Greater Noida venue fiasco has left Afghanistan Cricket facing criticism, with the Test match so far completely washed out due to the inclement weather. Fans and officials alike are left hoping that the rain will subside and allow some play to take place before the match concludes.