The third day of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida has been called off due to persistent rain. Play was abandoned by 9:15 a.m. local time, just 15 minutes before the scheduled start, as the rain and conditions of the outfield made it impossible to play. This follows two previous days when no play occurred at all, meaning the match has yet to see a toss and has very slim chances of concluding with a result.
Heavy downpours affected the venue, with rain starting in the afternoon before the scheduled third day and continuing into the morning. Umpires Sharfuddoula and Kumar Dharmasena decided to call off the day early. Broadcasters indicated a pessimistic outlook for the remainder of the Test match, citing concerns that poor weather could persist throughout the five days.
The situation has brought attention to the choice of venue, particularly its ability to handle adverse weather conditions. However, Menhajuddin Raz, the cricket manager for the Afghanistan Cricket Board, emphasised that the situation is simply a matter of bad luck, avoiding any finger-pointing.
This match represents a significant moment for Afghanistan, with it being only their tenth Test since receiving Test status in 2017. For New Zealand, the match serves as the start of a subcontinental tour that will include Tests in Sri Lanka and India, although this particular match does not contribute to the World Test Championship standings. Historical context reveals that the last time the first three days of a Test were completely abandoned was in 2008, highlighting the rarity of such an occurrence in cricket.