NZ-Afghanistan Noida game called off, 8th abandoned Test in history

Greater Noida, Sep 13: With rains playing spoilsport for the fifth consecutive day, the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand at Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, here was called off on Friday without a ball being bowled. 

The first ever five-day red ball game between the Afghans and the Black Caps even ended without the toss. It was the 8th Test match in history to be abandoned without any play. 

The last time a similar situation occurred was in 1998, when the Dunedin Test between India and New Zealand was called off.

Of the seven abandoned Test matches (out of the nearly 2,500 Tests so far), New Zealand have been involved on two occasions.

Similarly, 12 Test matches have been cancelled till date, with the Black Caps being one of the teams on four games. 

However, Afghanistan, who earned Test status late, never were involved in either an abandoned or a cancelled Test match.

Interestingly, India, the hosts of the ongoing one-off Test between the Kiwis and the Afghans, were involved in an abandoned game against the Kiwis in Dunedin in 1998.

Similarly, the Karachi Test between India and arch rivals Pakistan was cancelled in November 1984, after the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards on October 31, 1984.

After the abandoned Noida Test, Afghanistan's next assignment is the three-match ODI series against South Africa in Sharjah. Similarly, the Kiwis will travel to Sri Lanka for the two-Test series, which are part of the World Test Championship. After that, they will return to India for a three-Test series. 

The seven other previous Tests abandoned were as follows:

1. England vs Australia, Old Trafford, 1890

2. England vs Australia, Old Trafford, 1938

3. Australia vs England, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 1970

4. New Zealand vs Pakistan, Dunedin, 1989

5. West Indies vs England, Bourda (George Town), 1990

6. Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Faisalabad, 1998

7. New Zealand vs India, Dunedin, 1998.