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The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand were supposed to be historic but it is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. After poor drainage system and preparations led to a long delay, the unhygienic conditions have marked a new low.
On Day 2 of the one-off Test as ground staff tried to make it game-ready, the caterers were seen washing their utensils and filling up water from the water tap of the washroom at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium.
The poor catering services at the stadium have proved that Afghanistan cricketers’ allegations about mismanagement were not unwarranted.
Afghanistan have plenty of their matches in Greater Noida but they don’t want to play the venue anymore. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials told Sports Tak that they prefer the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow to host their home matches away from home.
“There are no facilities. We will never come here again. Our preference will be Lucknow,” an ACB official expressed his disappointment.
“There are no basic facilities. There is complete mismanagement at the venue. Even the players are not happy with good, training facilities and everything”.
Conditions unfit for play in Greater Noida
On September 10, the ground staffs dig up two to three feet area near mid-on and tried to use artificial grass to make the conditions playable. There is lack of basic facilities at the stadium. Due to rain, the preparations have been exposed. The organisers have been using rented covers and fans from the tent house.
The conditions may not be suitable for international cricket considering the condition of the outfield if rain returns in Greater Noida as players may face injury scare.
The coin toss continued to get delayed on Day as well and the teams stayed back at the hotel as they knew that the conditions won’t get better to play any time soon.
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