Afghanistan Cricket Board have posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that toss will take place at 9.00am local time and the game is scheduled to begin at 9.30am local time tomorrow, weather permitting. Both the umpires, Kumar Dharmasena and Sharfuddoula, mentioned that the players' safety was the main concern and the ground was not fit enough for play today. They stated that from tomorrow onwards for the next four days, there will be an extra half an hour of day’s play with play starting at 9.30am local time. On that note, we bid you goodbye. Join us tomorrow nice and early. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

16:07 Local Time, 10:37 GMT, 16:07 IST: Live visuals show that play has been called off for the day. It was inevitable with the way things were unfolding today. The heavy rains since the last two weeks have had a big impact on the outfield. It was bright and sunny in Greater Noida through the day today but the outfield still needs time to dry up optimally. The run-up area for the bowlers was also a major area of concern. The groundsmen tried their best but no play was possible today. So, we have lost an entire day of Test cricket. A disappointing day for all the cricket fans but the players' safety is of utmost importance. There is more rain forecasted for the next four days. Looking at the condition of the outfield, the groundsmen have their task cut out. Sorry state of affairs as everyone expected much better conditions for an international game of cricket.

As we wait for the next update, you can switch tabs and follow our coverage of the third Test at Oval - Sri Lanka hold the upper hand as they are eyeing a famous win against England

15:03 Local Time, 09:33 GMT, 15:03 IST: Live visuals show that the next inspection is at 4.30pm local time. Chances of any play happening today is getting slimmer by the minute.

14:45 Local Time, 09:15 GMT, 14:45 IST: Tea has been taken. The weather has also turned a bit overcast. Let's see what the next inspection has in store for us...

14:04 Local Time, 08:34 GMT, 14:04 IST: The inspection has been moved to 3.00pm local time. The waiting game continues...

13:08 Local Time, 07:38 GMT, 13:08 IST: Pratyush reports that there will be an inspection at 2.00pm local time.

Andrew Leonard pings from the ground:

12:52 Local Time, 07:22 GMT, 12:52 IST: We can see a few players warming up on the outfield. Stay tuned as we will bring you an update soon....

Abhimanyu: What is the forecast like for the rest of the day -- there is a slight possibility of rain in the afternoon

11:45 Local Time, 06:15 GMT, 11:45 IST: Early lunch has been taken.

11:33 Local Time, 06:03 GMT, 11:33 IST: Alas, the live broadacast reveals that the pitch inspection has been moved to 1.00pm local time. Not great news!

11:30 Local Time, 06:00 GMT, 11:30 IST: The inspection is around the corner.

11:04 Local Time, 05:34 GMT, 11:04 IST: Live visuals show that the supper soppers are doing their work on the outfield. The inspection is less than half an hour away. Let's hope we get some good news.

10:08 Local Time, 04:38 GMT, 10:08 IST: Live visuals show that the pitch inspection will now be held at 11:30am local time, which is more than an hour away.

Farveez Maharoof reports from the ground: Right behind me at the edge of the square, there is an area of concern. Bowling from the south end which is the media box end is a concern, doesnn’t look promising at the moment but the sun is beating down and hopefully, we will have some cricket soon.

As we buildup towards the game, you can read an interesting piece essayed by our correspondent, Pratyush Sinha. He talks about Daryl Mitchell's journey in international cricket and how he has learnt the art of adaptability to the changing demands of the glorious game of cricket.

09:20 Local Time, 03:50 GMT, 09:20 IST: The toss has been delayed due to wet outfield.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, are newbies to Test cricket. This is only their tenth Test since their inception to the longest format in 2017. The Asian side hardly plays Test cricket so this game serves as a big opportunity to showcase their calibre. We all know the Afghani players have a mighty spirit and they will need all of it in a format that tests your patience and temperament. The fact that Rashid Khan is still recovering from a back surgery and is not available is a big dent for them. Omarzai might be handed a debut as he can bring good balance with both bat and ball to the side. Afghanistan have lost their last three Tests. Can they spring in a suprise against a strong Kiwi side? There has been a lot of rain in the buildup to this game in Greater Noida and there’s prediciton for more through this week. But, let’s hope the weather stays clear and we are treated to some gruelling cricketing action. Stick around for the toss and team lineups...

09:00 Local Time, 03:30 GMT, 09:00 IST: Hello and a warm welcome to our live coverage of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida. These two teams will be facing each other for the first time in Test cricket. Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground will also be featuring its first Test match. So, it’s the beginning of a new dawn. The bruises for the Kiwis are still fresh from their rare group-stage exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup - Afghanistan had defeated them by a big margin in one of the games. This will be the first Test that New Zealand will be playing since March and they need to get into the groove quickly. This particular Test match is not part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. However, this game will serve as the perfect preparation for New Zealand as they are set to play five more Tests in the subcontinent against Sri Lanka and India in the next two months. NZ are third in the WTC points table but playing in the subcontinent poses a tricky path in their quest for making it to the final at Lord’s next year.