Air Quality Crisis Threatens World Cup Clash: Will Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka Match Happen In Delhi?

Ahead of the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka World Cup clash, players find themselves pitted against an adversary that lies beyond the cricket boundary - the perilous air quality of New Delhi. Notably, asthmatic members of the Bangladesh team have chosen to remain indoors, while Sri Lankan players have resorted to wearing masks, as reported by Reuters.

There are concerns and speculations circulating that the match might face cancellation due to the severe air quality conditions. If such an unprecedented decision is taken, it would mark the first instance in World Cup history where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has led to a match cancellation. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that Delhi's AQI has disrupted cricket matches in the past.

Ranji Trophy (Over the Years)

Ranji Trophy Matches in Delhi have been no stranger to such interruptions over the years. On numerous occasions, players have grappled with breathing difficulties, forcing games to come to a standstill. A notable instance occurred seven years ago on November 6, 2016, when intense air pollution and thick smog led to the abandonment of two Ranji Trophy matches. One was between Bengal and Gujarat at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, and the other featured Hyderabad against Tripura at Karnail Singh Stadium.

India vs Sri Lanka, Delhi (2017)

International cricket also witnessed the severity of Delhi's air pollution in December 2017 during the India-Sri Lanka Test. The haze significantly reduced visibility, and players even reported experiencing nausea, marking one of the first instances of an international match being disrupted due to pollution-related concerns.

India vs Bangladesh, Delhi (2019)

Fast forward to 2019, a T20 International between India and Bangladesh proceeded despite alarmingly high levels of air pollution. The decision to go ahead with the game in such conditions ignited substantial debate and raised concerns about the well-being of players and spectators.

It's important to note that the issue of air quality affecting cricket is not confined to Indian boundaries. The Big Bash League in Australia encountered a similar situation when a game in Canberra had to be abandoned in December 2019 due to "dangerous and unreasonable playing conditions" caused by smoke from nearby bushfires.

As of now, Delhi's air quality has plummeted to the 'severe plus' category, as categorised by the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The GRAP classifies actions into four stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI >450).