What Led to the Abandonment of India's T20I Match Against South Africa?
Fog Forces Cancellation of T20I Match
New Delhi: The fourth T20I match between India and South Africa was called off due to heavy fog and poor visibility. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is responsible for managing ticket refunds for fans.
Fans expressed their disappointment over the match's cancellation, as they are entitled to refunds (excluding fees) if a match is abandoned before any play occurs, according to BCCI's policy.
Saikia clarified, "The UPCA is the authority in charge of ticketing matters. They will provide information regarding refunds since they are the ones managing the event."
Despite multiple inspections by umpires K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan and Rohan Pandit, the match was ultimately called off at 9:30 PM.
With this cancellation at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, India leads the five-match series 2-1, with the final match scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
The abandonment has reignited discussions about the BCCI's decision to schedule international matches during winter months, especially since this series is crucial preparation for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup in February-March.
This match marked the first T20I held in Lucknow in December, now noted for being the first major international match in India to be abandoned due to fog.
Hardik Pandya, India's seam-bowling all-rounder, was seen wearing a mask during the match, highlighting the severe fog conditions and hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI). The scheduling of matches in North India during winter has been a long-standing issue, but Saikia described this incident as an unusual occurrence.
He explained, "This is an isolated weather event. Typically, we experience such conditions in January. This year, it has come earlier than usual. We had a match in Dharamsala recently, which is much colder. Weather predictions for fog and rain are challenging. Cricket is now a year-round sport, and we must schedule matches accordingly."
Saikia noted that adjustments were made to the domestic cricket calendar to avoid scheduling matches in North India during the first part of January, following previous experiences with fog disturbances.
He also referenced how the BCCI had previously rescheduled matches in response to smog in New Delhi after Diwali, swapping the locations of Test matches to avoid adverse conditions.
Saikia concluded, "Lucknow's situation was not anticipated, and such weather unpredictability complicates scheduling. While fog is common in early January, we are still in mid-December, making this an unexpected challenge."