On Sunday the smog cover over the city thickened further and visibility became an issue as the Air Quality Index (AQI) increased rapidly.
Bangladesh'a cricketers wearing face maks attend a practice session under heavy smog conditions at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi on November 2, 2019, ahead of the first T20 international cricket match of a three-match series between Bangladesh and India. (Photo by STR / AFP)
At a time when the air pollution in Delhi seems to be turning worse with every passing day, the Indian cricket team will host Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the first match of the Twenty-20 International (T20I).
However, concerns have been raised from various corners to shift the match from the capital city due to the toxic air quality. Two environmentalists, namely, Jyoti Pande and Ravina Raj Kohli had written an application to Ganguly asking him to move the match outside Delhi.
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“Making our cricketers play a physically demanding sport for 3-4 hours in Delhi’s toxic air will end up doing more damage to our cricket team’s health in the long run.” the duo was quoted as writing by PTI.
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Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir had also expressed his discontent over the T20I. “No match or sporting event is bigger than the people of Delhi. I do not think any match should happen here in Delhi until the pollution level come under control. The biggest issue that is bothering the Delhites is about pollution,” the BJP lawmaker was quoted as saying by ANI
Former Indian cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi also echoed the same and Ravichandran Ashwin, too, labelled the conditions in the capital city as “scary”.
The quality of air in Delhi is really scary, the oxygen we breathe is the basic requisite for mankind on this planet. This indeed is emergency. #AirQualityIndex #pollution
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 2, 2019
However, on Sunday the smog cover over the city thickened further and visibility became an issue as the Air Quality Index (AQI) increased rapidly. The PM 2.5 level has also spiked in the city by almost 5-6 times in the last few days.
Meanwhile, cricket fans in the country are not happy with how the BCCI handled the situation. Many criticised the board’s move to not relocate the match, while some even held the newly-elected President Sourav Ganguly directly responsible.
Here’s how the cricket fans are reacting:
That is crazy! Going ahead with #IndvBan is not only a risk to the players, but also the fans! #IndvsBan @BCCI
— Nithin Narayan (@idiotinavillage) November 3, 2019
#IndvsBan #DelhiPollution #DelhiBachao #BCCI #INDvBAN
Who will play well tonight? 💨
— Abraham Mathew M M (@AbrahamMathewMM) November 3, 2019
Don’t understand the need to play a t20i at Delhi when it’s reeling under toxic weather conditions. Money over safety really?#IndvsBan #DelhiAirEmergency #DelhiAirQuality #DelhiBachao #DelhiPollution
— Priyangshu Gogoi (@PriyangshuG) November 3, 2019
Shame on the Govt. International cric match is about to b calld off due to pollution in Delhi. Nothn more humiliating than this. Bt Govt wil blame every possible means 4 this.@ArvindKejriwal @GautamGambhir @PMOIndia @KirenRijiju @BCCI #DelhiAirEmergency #DelhiBachao #IndvsBan
— Siddarth Agarwal (@sidd1910) November 3, 2019
Have some shame and call the game off.
Expected something from new BCCI President Ganguly.
Looks like even he is no different from others.
Why host other team in this pathetic conditions and embarrass ourselves?#IndvsBan#INDvBAN #Delhi https://t.co/Dt3Ey9UaZQ— Akki (@Akki8115) November 3, 2019
Since when is a game more important than health. Stop playing in Delhi till this pollution gets sorted out #IndvsBan #DelhiAirEmergency
— Karthikeyan GT (@karthik0810) November 3, 2019
Just a request.
Whoever is going to the Kotla gas chamber today for #IndvsBan just don’t tag your children along.
There is a chance of them not forgiving you in future.#DelhiPollution #DelhiBachao
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) November 3, 2019
Cannot wait for Sanjay Manjrekar to say ‘The stadium is choked with enthusiasm’ and chuckle punningly 😒
— Jonny Blu (@souls_asylum) November 1, 2019
Conducting a cricket match on Delhi in such pollution is just criminal and blot on sports. @BCCI Why can’t it be shifted and also what was it planned in first place when everyone know Oct-Feb period is worst pollution wise. Who is answerable?
— Vishal 🇮🇳 (@vishalkmumbai) November 3, 2019
Only to insult the nation every year BCCI conducts cricket matches in Delhi when pollution is at the peak and Kejriwal govt happily permits this and central govt has no objection as well.
— Aßhishek Shukla (@abhishek25) November 3, 2019
Have some shame & abandon it. @SGanguly99 @BCCI
— Maitri Jain (@pull_playlist) November 3, 2019
Ganguly failed in his first test as a BCCI President. Had he been sensible, he should have shifted the match venue to any other place in West/South.https://t.co/oZByEXvXma
— Virendra (@viren56002) November 3, 2019
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the BCCI chief had confirmed that the match would go ahead as planned which was followed with a nod from India’s stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma.
Ganguly had said, “They [Delhi District and Cricket Association (DDCA) authorities] are expecting the match to go through. It was already scheduled so we couldn’t cancel it at the last minute.”
“So, in the future when we schedule, especially the northern part of India in the winter, we’ll have to be a little bit more practical. But fingers crossed,” he added.
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