Tharoor Advocates for Cricket Matches to Move to Southern India
Tharoor Calls for BCCI to Relocate Matches
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider moving cricket matches planned for North India to South India, citing that winter conditions in the south do not present visibility challenges.
The fourth T20I in the five-match series between India and South Africa was called off due to heavy fog at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. Currently, India leads the T20I series 2-1, with one match remaining. Tharoor expressed confusion over the decision to hold matches in North India during this season, stating, "They can come and play in South India, where pollution is not an issue. Visibility is clear, allowing fans to enjoy the game. Why schedule matches in North India at this time? They should be held in South India instead."
BCCI to Reassess North India Match Scheduling
In a prior statement, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla mentioned, "The match was canceled due to fog, which disappointed many fans. We need to evaluate the scheduling of matches from December 15 to January 15 in North India to see if a shift to South or West India is necessary. Domestic matches are also suffering due to fog, which is a significant concern."
Upcoming Cricket Fixtures
The period from December 15 to January 15 will feature the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a 50-over domestic tournament, starting from December 24 and running until January 18, with Jaipur among the venues.
The final T20I between India and South Africa is set for Friday in Ahmedabad. Following that, the ODI series against New Zealand will commence on January 11, featuring renowned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with matches scheduled in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.
Team Update: Axar Patel Excluded
Ahead of the fourth T20I, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining matches against South Africa due to health issues, as confirmed by the BCCI on December 15. Shahbaz Ahmed has been named as his replacement for the rest of the T20I series.
Squads for the Series
South Africa Squad: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (w), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Tony de Zorzi, Lutho Sipamla, Kwena Maphaka.
India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah.