No play on day one as wet outfield halts New Zealand, Afghanistan Test

The opening day of the one-off Test match between New Zealand and Afghanistan at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground was abandoned without a single ball being bowled. Despite clear skies and sunny weather, the wet outfield prevented play from starting.

Continuous rain over the past few days left the ground in poor condition. Chief curator Amit Sharma mentioned that the main challenge was keeping the outfield playable if the rain persisted. Although Monday saw no rain and the super-soppers worked hard, the outfield and bowlers' run-up areas remained too wet to begin the match.

Multiple inspections took place throughout the day, with the final one planned for 4:30 pm. However, officials called off the day’s play at 4:05 pm. The toss is now scheduled for 9 am tomorrow, with the remaining four days to feature 98 overs each, starting earlier at 9:30 am instead of 10 am.

Both teams will be hoping the weather holds up, as moderate thunderstorms are forecast for the rest of the week. Though this match is not part of the World Test Championship, it offers New Zealand valuable preparation for their upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka and India.

Afghanistan, who have played two one-off Tests this year, are still seeking their first Test win since 2021.