The Afghanistan vs New Zealand Test match at the Greater Noida Stadium faces a potential abandonment as rain continues to disrupt play. The match, which began on September 9, has been plagued by weather issues, with Day 2 already called off due to rain.

The Greater Noida Stadium, managed by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, has struggled to handle the conditions effectively. Despite a rain-free first day, no play occurred, and rain on the second day led to the cancellation of the day’s play.

As of now, the toss has not taken place, and Afghanistan’s team has not arrived at the stadium. New Zealand arrived for an inspection and had a brief practice session but left once play was called off for the day.

New Zealand is scheduled to start a Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on September 18, just eight days away. With limited time remaining and ongoing weather disruptions, the third day of the match is likely to be abandoned. The teams might agree to end the match early due to the unfit playing conditions.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has not confirmed any discussions about abandoning the match if the third day is a washout. The situation remains uncertain as both teams await further developments.

The Afghanistan cricket team is set to face New Zealand in a historic one-off Test match. This will be Afghanistan’s first Test against New Zealand, taking place at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in India from September 9 to 13, 2024.

Fans can enjoy free admission to the match by registering online or at local counters. Gates will open at 8 AM, with the toss scheduled for 9:30 AM, and the match running from 10 AM to 5 PM each day.

Post-series, the stadium will undergo renovations to expand its capacity to 25,000, with hopes of hosting future IPL matches.

New Zealand squads

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.

Afghanistan squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Shahidullah Kamal, Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Shams Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Nijat Masood, Khalil Ahmad.