Three cricketers from the Bangladesh cricket team as well as a support staff member wore masks on Friday during the training session before the first T20, as Delhi’s air quality fell even further. On Thursday, Liton Das was the only Bangladesh cricketer wearing a mask at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi, but things seem to have gotten worse, as air quality dipped to emergency levels.
However, new BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that the game on November 3 will go ahead since it is too late to change the venue. “We have spoken to Delhi authorities in the last two days. They are expecting the match to go through. It could not be canceled in the last minute,” Ganguly was quoted as saying in media reports.
India’s captain for the T20 series, Rohit Sharma, was also confident of the match being played. “I have just landed and haven’t had time to assess. As far as I know, the game is to be played on November 3 and will be played,” Rohit said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter and wrote that Delhi has turned into a gas chamber. "Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in neighboring states. It is very important that we protect ourselves from this toxic air. Through Pvt & govt schools, we have started distributing 50 lakh masks today. I urge all Delhiites to use them whenever needed," Kejriwal said on Twitter.
During the 2017 Test between India and Sri Lanka, players from the island nation complained of breathlessness and frequent vomiting.
Bangladesh are currently in India for a three-T20I and two-Test series.
--Renin Wilben Albert
