New Delhi: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned due to excessive fog at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The umpires held multiple inspections after initially delaying the toss for 20 minutes, and after more than two hours of waiting, finally called off the match after the final inspection at 9.30 pm local time.
With every passing minute, hopes of getting the match underway faded as conditions worsened as the night progressed. Severe air pollution also contributed to the unplayable conditions as the AQI in Lucknow hovered around 430. India all-rounder Hardik Pandya showed up at the ground wearing a mask in what looked like a hazardous setting for an international match.
The initial decision to delay the match was taken after a thick layer of smog engulfed the stadium. Umpires, after inspection, ruled that the conditions would create a hindrance for the fielders if the balls were hit in the air. The No result means India can’t lose the series and head into the series finale in Ahmedabad wth a 2-1 lead.
BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee in a tight spot
The abandonment of the match puts BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee in a tight spot. Its decision to organise matches in the eastern and northern regions of the country during winter raises serious questions about the poor planning and scheduling of the international matches.
Has this happened before in cricket?
It is one of the rare occasions when a cricket match has been abandoned due to fog. In 1998-99, a Test match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was called off without a ball being bowled after thick fog made it impossible for the players to show up at the ground. Umpires Salim Badar and New Zealander Doug Cowie decided to call off the match on the fourth day.
Zimbabwe didn’t mind the result too much as the African nation sealed a 1-0 series win and claimed their first-ever Test series win.
While it’s uncommon for cricket matches to be abandoned due to fog, football matches getting called off due to fog is a common sight. The most recent instance was last weekend in Croatia, where a top-flight match was called off early on after it was left completely unwatchable due to excessive fog.