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NEW DELHI: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was called off on Wednesday after a thick layer of smog engulfed the Ekana Stadium, severely reducing visibility.

The delay has sparked questions about the BCCI’s decision to schedule matches in northern India during the peak winter months.

The series venues included New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Ranchi, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, and Kolkata, with matches planned across November and December.

This period often sees high pollution levels in cities like Lucknow, New Chandigarh, and Dharamsala, creating challenging conditions for players and spectators alike.

Excessive Fog Forces Abandonment

The match, scheduled to start at 7 pm, was officially abandoned without a ball being bowled due to "excessive fog." The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lucknow remained above 400, in the hazardous range. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a surgical mask as the Indian team warmed up.

Officials conducted multiple inspections throughout the evening, with the sixth inspection at 9:30 pm confirming that conditions were unlikely to improve. By 7:30 pm, players had ended their warm-up, and by 9 pm, a large portion of the crowd had begun leaving.

BCCI Vice-President and UPCA stalwart Rajeev Shukla was seen on the field during one of the inspections. His body language suggested clear disappointment as he spoke with match officials.

Next Steps for the Series

With no reserve day in place, both teams will now fly to Ahmedabad for the final T20I on Friday. India currently leads the series 2–1. While the BCCI follows a rotational venue policy, critics argue that swapping northern venues with the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, starting January 11, could have reduced weather-related risks.

The white-ball series will take place across western and southern India, including Vadodara, Rajkot, Indore, Nagpur, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram, with only one match scheduled in Guwahati. Northern venues during winter have historically faced weather disruptions.

Challenging Conditions for Players

Last week, the third T20I in Dharamsala was played in sub-10-degree temperatures at the foot of the snow-clad Dhauladhar range. India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy admitted the conditions were tough, saying, “I’ve never played at a ground this cold, so I did find it quite challenging.”

The AQI in Dharamsala during the third T20I was in the 'poor' category and reached 'severe' in New Chandigarh during the second T20I. The lack of contingency planning, such as afternoon starts, has drawn criticism, with many arguing that the board could have avoided disappointing fans while ensuring safe conditions for players.

(With PTI Inputs)