Rain abandons Afghanistan’s one off test against New Zealand without a ball bowled

GREATER NOIDA: Afghanistan’s eagerly anticipated one-off Test against New Zealand, scheduled to be the first-ever encounter between the two nations in the longest format, ended in disappointment as rain washed out the entire match. Held at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sport Complex in Greater Noida, near Delhi, the match became only the eighth in Test history to be abandoned without a single ball being bowled.

The historic Test was marred by unrelenting rain in the region, which had persisted for over two weeks, making play impossible. Despite hopes for a break in the weather, the fifth and final day saw no improvement, forcing the officials to call off the match on Friday. This fixture also marked the first Test to be scheduled at the Greater Noida venue, chosen by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) for its proximity to Delhi, facilitating easier travel from Kabul.

Afghanistan, which plays its home matches abroad due to security concerns, had opted for Greater Noida over other Indian venues for this historic Test. The abandonment without play is a significant setback for Afghanistan, who continue to build their reputation in international cricket. New Zealand, meanwhile, will move on to their next challenge, a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle, starting on September 18.