This one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida has been beset by problems. The Afghanistan team’s concerns point to some very serious issues that would need to be addressed for such venues to prove viable for international cricket. In the blog below, we try to find different factors that led to this turmoil surrounding the match.
Poor Infrastructure and Lack of Proper Drainage
The state of affairs in the Greater Noida Stadium infrastructure has been one of the main reasons for the disruption in the Test match. Poor drainage has been the major problem, and as a result, the opening day of play was completely washed out. The skies were clear, yet the groundsmen just could not get the pitch ready because of the effects of previous rain that had left the outfield soggy and unplayable.
So intense was the rain that, during the Afghanistan practice sessions, the ground staff had to use table fans to dry the field. This shows the deficiency of modern facilities for the venue as the impact of weather could have been minimized.
Poor Facilities for Media and Spectators
The issues were not restricted to the pitch. In the venue, the lack of decent media facilities and seating arrangements for the fans was severely criticized. Accredited journalists suffered a series of inconveniences like shortage of water, cuts in power supply, and absence of ladies’ washrooms. In this aspect, besides serving basic needs, when some of these facilities are not provided, it also affects coverage by the media or makes the stay less comfortable for the spectators.
Besides, due to the deficiency of the announcement system, the audience were uninformed about the status of the match. The incident is sure to raises anger among people due to a lack of proper communication between the stadium authorities and Afghanistan Cricket Board .
Ground Conditions and Safety Concerns
The outfield was in such a state that the players were seriously exposed to safety hazards. The on-field umpires, during their inspections, found that areas near the mid-on and midwicket have large patches of ground that are puddled, making those areas unplayable. This situation thus raised concerns about player safety-as the risk of injury increases on such surfaces.
The ground staff attempted to redeem matters by covering the marred portions with sawdust and digging out portions of the outfield in an attempt to fill those areas with dry soil and grass. Nevertheless, the conditions were not ideal to host a Test match. The incessant rain worsened the situation, making the very future of the match quite uncertain.
Lack of Management and Communication Skills
The mismanagement of the entire situation has also formed a major part of disgruntlement. For instance, one of the officials of the Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed his disappointment for a lack of communication and preparedness from the authorities of the stadium. Contrary to what was assured earlier that things would be in order, the reality on the ground turned out quite different that translated into disappointment and dissatisfaction of both the teams.
The lack of adequate planning and coordination has not only created issues regarding the current Test match but also brought into question the viability of Greater Noida Stadium for any future international fixtures. In the words of one official from ACV, “This is a huge mess. We are never coming back here.”
