The Greater Noida Sports Complex is under scrutiny after the Afghanistan vs New Zealand one-off Test faced significant disruptions. Not a single ball was bowled in the first three days due to a wet outfield and continuous rain. The inadequate facilities at the stadium, including a viral video showing caterers cleaning utensils in a toilet, have drawn widespread criticism.
Missed Opportunity forAfghanistan and New Zealand
Although this Test match isn’t part of the WTC cycle, it was an important opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills. Despite being an ICC-standard venue, the stadium appeared far from ready. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is facing criticism for selecting this ground for the Test match. They had access to better, world-class stadiums elsewhere in India. Despite this, the ACB chose the underprepared Greater Noida Sports Complex.
Match-referee Javagal Srinath will play a key role in determining the future of the Greater Noida Stadium. The ICC will follow its protocol, basing its decision on Srinath’s report, which will assess the stadium’s drainage system and overall readiness. A single heavy rain spell was enough to halt play, exposing the venue’s poor drainage facilities.
ICC Guidelines Could Lead to Ban
As per ICC guidelines, Srinath’s report will evaluate the pitch and outfield. If either is rated “unsatisfactory” or “unfit,” demerit points will be assigned to the stadium. Accumulating more than six demerit points within five years will result in a 12-month ban from hosting international matches.
Improving the stadium’s condition requires more than just local efforts—the involvement of the BCCI is crucial for necessary upgrades. The future of the Greater Noida Sports Complex now hinges on the match-referee’s assessment.
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