'We will never come here again': Afghanistan cricket team criticises Indian venue

Despite efforts by ground staff, poor infrastructure and planning led to dissatisfaction with the stadium.

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The Afghanistan national cricket team has voiced its dissatisfaction with the facilities at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in India's Greater Noida state, following a rain-hit one-off Test match against New Zealand.

The opening day on September 9 was washed out due to a wet outfield and persistent rain, and the match continued to be halted on the second day for the same reasons.

Despite prior efforts to ensure readiness, the team raised issues regarding the stadium’s facilities over what they see as mismanagement and inadequate amenities at the venue.

Reports indicate that the team has formally announced they will not return to this stadium for future matches.

A source within the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed that future games will be relocated to Lucknow, citing the lack of basic facilities as the primary reason.

"There are no facilities. We will never come here again. Our preference will be Lucknow," an ACB official stated, adding that even the training facilities were substandard.

A team of approximately 20-25 ground staff, including 15 outsourced workers, struggled with the challenging conditions, hindered by insufficient resources.

Despite having five super soppers on hand (two automatic and three manual), the drying process remained slow and ineffective.

The ground was covered with three 30-yard sheets and five larger 80x60 covers, though reports indicated that some of these had been rented from a nearby tent provider, highlighting the inadequate planning and lack of proper preparation.

The stadium's infrastructure has come under scrutiny, particularly due to the absence of an efficient drainage system. While rain delays are common in cricket, most modern venues are equipped to handle such disruptions quickly.

This marks a setback for Afghanistan's 10th Test match in their history, where they hoped to build on their recent success in shorter formats, including a win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.

Under captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan has won two out of nine Test matches, with victories against Bangladesh and Ireland.

Ahead of the match, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi Shahidi stressed the need for a stable home venue, expressing hopes for improved conditions. "India is our home, and we hope to get a good venue for hosting matches here," he said.

Hashmatullah also noted that Afghanistan’s strong first-class records reflect their comfort playing at home grounds, adding that a more permanent venue could boost their performance.