AFG vs NZ | Afghanistan Cricket Board releases statement after Greater Noida outfield debacle

Amid the situation, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated that questions arose regarding the BCCI's decision to host the match at Greater Noida during the monsoon season. The timing and location of the game have sparked criticism, as weather conditions were always likely to be an issue. The statement read, “It’s currently monsoon season in India, and persistent rain has affected India’s domestic competitions as well. While we can’t control the weather, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has provided us with additional machinery, and further efforts are underway to make the conditions ideal for the game to start.”

Earlier, the ACB had considered Dehradun, Lucknow, and Greater Noida as potential venues for the Test. However, the first two options were unavailable due to BCCI’s domestic fixtures, while the intense heat in the UAE made it an impractical choice for hosting a Test match. With New Zealand's packed schedule, the ACB ultimately selected Greater Noida to ensure that this crucial fixture could be played

Talking about the rains and ground conditions, ACB said that the rains have affected the domestic season and mentioned, “ Persistent rains over the past few days have also disrupted India’s domestic competitions. They mentioned that while they usually host matches during this time of year, this is the first time that most of the games are being washed out due to such heavy rainfall.” 

All attention now shifts to the fourth day of the match, with hopes that the weather will allow some cricketing action to unfold. However, with rain still in the forecast, the likelihood of any play seems increasingly uncertain.