Published: Sep 12, 2024, 12:28 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 12, 2024, 12:54 PM (IST)
Rain here on Thursday forced the cancellation of the fourth day of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand.
The match officials canceled play for the fourth day in a row due to heavy rain, which spoiled the toss set for nine in the morning.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) released a statement saying, “Due to continued rainfall, the fourth day of the only Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand teams is also not going to be played.”
The ACB stated, “The decision regarding the game’s start time tomorrow morning at 8:00 will be made after the stadium assessment.”
Since the damp outfield prevented any activity on the first two days, not a single ball has been bowled throughout the course of four days, creating severe concerns about the venue’s readiness to host the competition.
In the history of Test cricket, only seven matches have been called off before a ball has been bowled.
It was last experienced during the 1998 Dunedin match between New Zealand and India.
Afghanistan, the game’s hosts, chose the location for logistical reasons.
This is their tenth game since the ICC granted them Test status in 2017.
For the first time, Afghanistan is taking on New Zealand in a Test match. Nevertheless, the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle of the ICC does not include this match.
Next, New Zealand departs for a two-Test series in Sri Lanka before making a three-Test return trip to India, which begins in Bengaluru on October 16.
