Afghanistan vs New Zealand: Day 5 also abandoned, Greater Noida Test ends without a ball being bowled

Afghanistan vs New Zealand: The one off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand ended without a ball being bowled at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.

Like the first four days, Day 5 of the Test match was also abandoned by the officials on Friday, September. It continued raining in Greater Noida, and the condition of the ground with a poor drainage facility became worse.

afghanistan-vs-new-zealand-day-5-also-abandoned-greater-noida-test-ends-without-a-ball-being-bowled — Image Courtesy: BLACKCAPS on X

Broadcasters started packing up and ad hoardings were removed from the boundary line even before the official announcement was made.

"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 been also called off by the match officials," the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced.

It's only the eighth instance of a Test match being abandoned without a ball being bowled. There was a lot of excitement for the Test match - the first between Afghanistan and New Zealand in the history of more than 150-year-old format of the game.

New Zealand landed in India for the historic first-ever Test match against Afghanistan, thinking of getting used to the subcontinent conditions ahead of their two Test matches in Sri Lanka, and three-Test series against India in October-November. However, they have been restricted to the team hotel amid a major chaos which has garnered international attention.

Some overs of play could have been possible, especially on the opening day, but lack of facility at the venue, which was hosting its first Test, laid the foundation for a frustrating and disastrous series of events. Super soppers were not available, and proper ground covers were also not there to be found. Both were arranged only after Day 2 of the match was abandoned.

New Zealand will now head to Sri Lanka, while Afghanistan to UAE to host South Africa for a three-match ODI series in Sharjah where neither rain or drainage facility will be a problem.