Shashi Tharoor Advocates for Cricket Matches in South India Amid Fog Issues

Tharoor's Proposal for Cricket Match Relocation

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider hosting cricket matches in South India instead of North India during the winter months, citing visibility issues in the latter region. The fourth match of the five-match T20 series between India and South Africa was canceled on Tuesday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow due to heavy fog. Currently, India leads the T20 series 2-1 with one match remaining.

Concerns Over Match Scheduling

Tharoor questioned the rationale behind scheduling matches in North India at this time of year, suggesting that South India offers better conditions for play without pollution or visibility problems, allowing fans to enjoy the games. He emphasized that matches should be held in South India instead. Previously, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla mentioned that the fog was the reason for the match cancellation, which had upset many fans. He indicated that a review of the match schedule for North India between December 15 and January 15 is necessary to determine if they should be moved to South or West India, as domestic matches are also being affected by fog.

Upcoming Domestic Competitions

Notably, domestic competitions are set to take place between December 15 and January 15, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will run from December 24 to January 18, with Jaipur among the venues. The final T20 international match between India and South Africa is scheduled for Friday in Ahmedabad. Additionally, an ODI series against New Zealand featuring stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will commence on January 11, with matches planned in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.

Injury Update on Axar Patel

Before the fourth T20 international match, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the remaining T20 matches against South Africa due to illness. The BCCI announced on December 15 that Shahbaz Ahmed has been included in the squad for the remaining T20 internationals in place of Patel.