Weather forecast suggests fourth day of match likely to be abandoned due to rain

The unyielding rain in Greater Noida has once again prevailed, forcing play to be called off before the scheduled start time for the second day in a row. This disappointing turn of events almost certainly guarantees that the first ever Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand will end in a washout.

"There has been more than 1200 mm of rain over seven days," was the message from the broadcast. "The scale of rainfall has made it absolutely impossible for cricket today. We are going to come back on day five just in case, but the reality is there will be absolutely no prospect of play. We can't envisage anything else but an abandonment very early tomorrow morning."

The last time a men's Test was abandoned without a ball being bowled was in 1998, in Dunedin, on India's tour to New Zealand.

Full report to follow...