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Rain forced the cancellation of the fourth consecutive day of the only Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand on Thursday, leaving the match in danger of being called off without a ball bowled.
As overnight rains added to an already saturated pitch in Greater Noida, near New Delhi, umpires inspected the pitch ahead of the scheduled 9:30 a.m. (0400 GMT) start time and declared no play would be possible.
The draw has yet to take place in Afghanistan’s adopted home ground, which has been experiencing incessant rain for two weeks.
The venue, which is hosting its first Test, has been criticised for its lack of world-class facilities and rudimentary drainage.
Portable electric fans had been used earlier in the week in a desperate attempt to dry out the saturated grass.
Afghanistan, who are unable to play international matches at home due to the security situation, have played several Twenty20 and one-day internationals at the venue since 2017 after the Board of Control for Cricket in India offered them the use of its facilities.
This is only Afghanistan’s 10th five-day match since they were granted Test status in 2017.
Tim Southee’s New Zealand will then travel, after the final day scheduled for Friday, for two tests in Sri Lanka before returning for three more against India.
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