Afghanistan-New Zealand Test faces complete washout after day four called off

In Greater Noida, rain has caused the fourth straight day of the only Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand to be canceled on Thursday. There has been no play, and the game might end up being called off without any cricket being played.

Heavy rain overnight made the ground too wet for play, so umpires decided at 9:30 am (04:00 GMT) that no cricket could take place. They will check the conditions again at 8:00 am (02:30 GMT) on Friday, which is the last day of the Test. If the Test is canceled, it would be only the eighth Test in history to be completely washed out, and the first in over 25 years.

The last time a Test match was completely rained out was in December 1998, when New Zealand played against India in Dunedin. An abandoned Test match between Australia and England in Melbourne in 1970 led to the creation of one-day international cricket, as the teams decided to play a 40-over game on the fifth day.

Afghanistan can’t host international matches at home due to security issues, so they are playing at Greater Noida, near New Delhi. This venue has been very rainy for the past two weeks. Although Afghanistan has played Twenty20 and one-day international matches here since 2017, this is the first time it’s hosting Test cricket. The ground has faced criticism for its basic facilities and poor drainage.

Earlier this week, hand-held electric fans were used to try to dry the wet pitch. This is only Afghanistan’s 10th Test match since they became a Test-playing nation in 2017.

After Friday, New Zealand’s team, led by Tim Southee, will travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests and then return to play three more Tests against India.