The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida has recently been in the headlines but for all the wrong reasons. Chosen to host the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand, the venue came under scrutiny due to its severe lack of facilities.
The first day of the Test match was washed out due to the rain, while on the second day, unhygienic conditions in the stadium have caused even more concerns.
In the photo, a caterer can be seen washing utensils in the washroom. The absence of modern facilities at the venue caused operational hindrances. The media at the venue lacked proper seating on the opening day and even water and washroom facilities were substandard.
Persistent rain and a lack of modern drainage facilities has hurt the chances of the one-off Test witnessing a result. Also despite the availability of 5 super soppers, the drying process was slow and inefficient.
This is not the first time Afghanistan cricket team were playing in the Greater Noida stadium. In 2017, Afghanistan played 3 ODIs and as many T20Is against Ireland and 3 more T20Is against the same opposition in 2020 at the venue.
On Tuesday, another concerning sight was the staff digging up sections of the outfield and filling them with dry soil and grass in a desperate attempt to make it playable. However, even after their best efforts, the outfield remained unsuitable for Test conditions.
