The Greater Noida Cricket Stadium is facing an unexpected challenge, as the wet ground conditions have led to the cancellation of the first three days of the test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand. Despite all efforts to dry the pitch and outfield, no play has been possible, leaving fans and players frustrated.
Three Days of No Play
The first two days of the test match were cancelled because the ground remained too wet for play. On the third day, rain added to the woes, completely washing out any chance of a match. The ground staff has tried various methods to get the field ready, but so far, none have worked.
What Efforts Were Made to Dry the Ground?
The ground staff made several attempts to dry the field. First, they tried using fans to blow air over the wet areas, but this didn’t help. Then, they decided to dig up the wet patches of the ground, hoping that removing the soaked surface would allow them to replace it with a dry layer. They even used dry turf from the practice nets and placed it in the midfield area. Unfortunately, these efforts didn’t improve the conditions enough for play to resume.
Why Is the Ground Not Drying?
One of the main reasons for the ground’s wet condition is the type of soil in the outfield. Unlike sandy soil, which drains water quickly, the surface at Greater Noida retains moisture for a long time. This has made it difficult for the ground to dry out, even when the rain has stopped.
Another issue is the absence of proper covers to protect the entire field. The lack of a large enough cover means that the ground remains exposed to the elements. Additionally, the stadium doesn’t have enough super soppers, which are essential machines used to absorb water from the field. The limited resources have made it harder for the ground staff to manage the wet conditions.
Support from BCCI
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has received help from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Curators from Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium were sent to Greater Noida to assist in preparing the ground. However, despite their best efforts, the situation hasn’t improved much.
The ongoing struggle to get the ground ready has raised concerns about the infrastructure at the Greater Noida Cricket Stadium, highlighting the need for better drainage systems and equipment to deal with such weather conditions in the future.
