(Image Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] Delhi’s air quality issues have led to training cancellations for both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ahead of their November 6 match at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The city’s persistent air quality concerns, exacerbated by factors like neighboring states’ stubble burning, have prompted an air emergency declaration and school closures. The air quality is expected to remain severe in the coming days.
The ICC and BCCI are closely monitoring the situation, prioritizing participants’ well-being. Sri Lanka has faced similar challenges in the past, with players experiencing respiratory issues during the 2017 Delhi Test. Delhi residents regularly cope with smog and respiratory problems due to pollution.
“The ICC and our hosts the BCCI take the well-being of all participants seriously and are monitoring the air quality in Delhi. We are taking expert advice to assess the situation,” an ICC spokesperson shared. “Due to worsening conditions, we didn’t take the chance,” Bangladesh’s team director Khaled Mahmud had said. “We have two more training days. Some of us developed coughing, so there’s a risk factor. We don’t want to get sick. We don’t know if things will improve, but we have training tomorrow. We want all the players to be fit for the important game coming up on November 6.”
Indian captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of safeguarding future generations from such conditions, echoing the BCCI’s decision to avoid fireworks during matches in Delhi and Mumbai to address pollution concerns.