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Rain forced the only Test day between Afghanistan and New Zealand to be abandoned for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, raising the risk that the match will be abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
The stadium in Greater Noida, near New Delhi, was already soaked due to overnight rains. Umpires carried out an inspection before the scheduled start time of 9:30 a.m. (04:00 GMT) and declared that play could not take place.
The coin toss has yet to take place in Afghanistan’s adopted homeland, where it has been raining nonstop for two weeks.
The venue for the first Test has come under criticism for its lack of first-class facilities and rudimentary drainage.
Earlier in the week, hand fans were used in a desperate attempt to dry the soaked lawn.
Afghanistan is unable to play international matches at home due to the security situation. Since 2017, the country has played several Twenty20 and One-Day Internationals at the venue after the Indian Cricket Board of Control offered to use its facilities.
This is only Afghanistan’s tenth five-day match since the team was granted Test status in 2017.
After the final day scheduled for Friday, Tim Southee’s New Zealand team will travel to Sri Lanka for two Tests before returning for three more matches against India.
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