The one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground has yet to commence, with rain continuing to disrupt the game. The first four days have been abandoned due to poor weather and wet outfield conditions, preventing even the toss from taking place.
Afghanistan, playing their home Test in India, had anticipated this match with excitement, but the weather has played spoilsport. Covers remained on most of the ground throughout Day 4, with no play possible. The situation has caused frustration, especially since Afghanistan was keen to test themselves against a formidable New Zealand side.
Adding to Afghanistan’s challenges, their star all-rounder Rashid Khan has been ruled out of the match due to a back injury. He sustained the injury during Afghanistan’s domestic T20 tournament, the Shpageeza Cricket League, in July. His absence will be a major setback for Afghanistan, as Rashid’s bowling is a key strength in their Test lineup.
New Zealand, under the leadership of Tim Southee, brought a strong squad featuring five spinners—Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips—anticipating spin-friendly conditions. However, the rain has prevented them from putting their plans into action.
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, had spoken before the match about the importance of having a consistent home venue for their team in India, as they have played Tests in various locations, including Dehradun, Lucknow, and Abu Dhabi. Shahidi emphasized that sticking to one venue could be more effective for Afghanistan’s development.
Squads:
Afghanistan:
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (C)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Riaz Hassan
- Abdul Malik
- Rahmat Shah
- Baheer Shah Mahboob
- Ikram Alikhil (WK)
- Shahidullah Kamal
- Gulbadin Naib
- Afsar Zazai (WK)
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Ziaurrahman Akbar
- Shamsurrahman
- Qais Ahmad
- Zahir Khan
- Nijat Masoud
- Farid Ahmad Malik
- Naveed Zadran
- Khalil Ahmad
- Yama Arab
New Zealand:
- Tim Southee (C)
- Tom Blundell (WK)
- Michael Bracewell
- Devon Conway
- Matt Henry
- Tom Latham (VC)
- Daryl Mitchell
- Will O’Rourke
- Ajaz Patel
- Glenn Phillips
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mitchell Santner
- Ben Sears
- Kane Williamson
- Will Young
Both teams will now hope for an opportunity to get on the field, though the persistent rain has greatly impacted the chances of a result in this Test match.
