It is time Indian players stop being in a denial mode and acknowledge the fact that Delhi’s air quality is too poor to play international cricket. Many believe that Sri Lankan players’ decision to halt the match due to smog pollution was an excuse for an early declaration (basically avoiding further humiliation).
A video of Day 3’s play surfaced on Twitter where Murali Vijay can be seen coughing, struggling with the poor air quality and explaining it to skipper Kohli.
Here’s the video which proves Indian players needed to put on the mask too:
Murali Vijay not looking too comfortable… #DelhiSmog #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/grTYpwck2Y
— Karthik Lakshmanan (@lk_karthik) December 4, 2017
Here are a few facts that will prove Sri Lankans were not wrong in halting the match on Day 2:
The Air Quality Index (AQI) measured in Delhi at 4 p.m. (December 3) was 351 (on a scale of 0 to 500), and by 6 p.m. it reached 361. On Saturday, the AQI of Delhi was 331. At ITO, about two km from the cricket stadium, the air quality was “very-poor” with the major pollutant PM2.5 or particles with diameter less than 2.5 micrometers, was recorded 212 units — over eight times the safe limit.
ALSO READ: Delhi Smog: Suranga Lakmal leaves match mid-way after vomiting on Day 4. Twitter reacts
On Day 4 of the third Test, Suranga Lakmal left the field after vomiting on the ground. The fast bowlers are the ones who have been affected the most by the heavy smog in the capital as they had to run way more than other players. On Day 2, both the Sri Lankan fast bowlers Lahiru Gamage and Lakmal left the field. And, the situation reached a point where the Sri Lankan trainer Nick Lee almost took the field donning the Sri Lankan white jersey.
ALSO READ: Watch: How smog is killing cricket in the capital
This infamous incident reflects poor planning and scheduling of Test matches from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is a known fact that in winters, pollution does increase in the capital due to the burning of crops by the farmers in the neighbouring states. Hopefully, the smog fiasco will remind the BCCI to be more careful when they schedule international matches during the winter season.
