The much-anticipated Afghanistan vs New Zealand one-off Test in Greater Noida has been officially cancelled without a ball being bowled. This marks the first time in 91 years that a Test match on Indian soil has been abandoned without a single delivery. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) cited persistent rainfall and poor stadium conditions as the primary reasons.
The last four days were plagued by relentless rain, preventing the game from starting. The ground’s poor drainage system and a damp outfield compounded the problems, leaving the pitch unplayable. A decision about the final day was expected after a stadium assessment, but hopes of a start dwindled as weather conditions worsened.
The ACB had previously been offered venues in Kanpur and Bengaluru to host the Test, but they opted for Greater Noida due to scheduling conflicts with other domestic matches. Unfortunately, this decision backfired, as the Greater Noida venue’s facilities were unable to handle the weather challenges.
Historically, this is only the second time in Asia that a Test match has been cancelled without a ball being bowled, the first occurring in Pakistan in 1998 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Globally, just seven Test matches have faced such abandonment.
The cancellation is a disappointment for both teams. For New Zealand, this match was a vital opportunity to acclimatize to subcontinental conditions ahead of upcoming Tests against Sri Lanka and India. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, still in search of their first red-ball win since 2021, missed a crucial chance to build momentum.
This Test match was not part of the World Test Championship, but it held significance for both teams’ preparation for future encounters. The abandonment will now leave both teams looking ahead to their upcoming challenges.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed regret over the situation, but acknowledged that the weather was beyond their control. They will now focus on future red-ball opportunities.
With this historic cancellation, Indian cricket witnesses a rare blemish, as the match joins the short list of Test games globally that never saw a ball bowled.
arun564 
Nithin Rosh 
Nisham Ismail