AFG Vs NZ, One-Off Test: Greater Noida Stadium Likely To Be Banned From Hosting International Matches
Greater Noida Cricket Stadium [x]
The Greater Noida Sports Complex has come under scrutiny as the Afghanistan Vs New Zealand one-off Test has still not witnessed a single delivery being bowled. The first three days of the Test match was abandoned due to wet outfield and relentless rain, and the poor facilities at the stadium has garnered negative reaction.
Even though the Afghanistan-New Zealand Test match wasn't a part of the WTC cycle, yet, it provided a chance for both the teams to test their skills in an unknown territory. However, the stadium, despite being of ICC standards, looks far from ready, and a video went viral recently, showcasing the caterers cleaning the utensils in the toilet.
Match-referee holds the key as Greater Noida Stadium likely to be banned
With so much happening, the future of the Greater Noida Sports Complex hangs in jeopardy and match-referee, Javagal Srinath holds the key. The Afghanistan Cricket Board is responsible for the situation as they chose this ground for the Test match, despite being offered other world-class stadiums in the country.
With so much criticism going around, the ICC will follow its protocol and will rely on match-referee's report to decide the fate of the stadium.
Srinath will thoroughly assess the ground conditions, especially the drainage system, which was exposed as a single heavy spell of rain was enough to halt the play.
As per ICC, Srinath will do a pitch and monitoring process and a report will be send to ICC head. If the pitch and/or outfield are rated "Unsatisfactory" or "unfit", then demerit points will be given to the stadium.
If the stadium gets more than six demerit points, within a five-year period, then no international games will take place for a period of 12-months. It is to be noted that the local authorities, alone cannot improve the condition of the stadium, for that, they need BCCI's assistance.