AAP News
Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi didn't get to toss against New Zealand in the abandoned Test [Source: AP]
Afghanistan’s one-off Test against New Zealand has become just the eighth match in the format’s history to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Rain washed out the fifth and final day in India’s Greater Noida region on Friday.
The first-ever Test scheduled between the sides looked doomed from the start due to steady rain for over two weeks in the region.
It was also the first Test to be scheduled at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sport Complex near Delhi.
The first time a Test had been abandoned without any play was in 1890 and the most-recent nearly 26 years ago also involved New Zealand.
On December 18, 1998, New Zealand’s home Test against India was abandoned on day three because of persistent rain at Carisbrook Oval in Dunedin.
Afghanistan play their home matches abroad due to security concerns for touring teams.
The Afghan board preferred Greater Noida over two other venues in India because of its proximity to Delhi, which made travelling from Kabul easier.
New Zealand will fly to Sri Lanka on Saturday for a two-Test series starting in Galle from September 18.
