For millions of Indians, cricket is a passion rather than only a game. However, major concerns have to be asked when the game compromises the health of spectators and players. Despite Delhi’s infamous air pollution crisis, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a Test match against South Africa in Delhi this November.
Given 16 other active Test sites around the nation, why choose a site where breathing itself becomes dangerous? Discussions on platforms like Bpexch also highlight the growing concern among fans about prioritizing health and safety over venue prestige.
Crisis in Delhi’s Air Quality in November
Every year in November, Delhi becomes a gas chamber. Often crossing 400 (designated as “severe”) and even four-digit numbers, the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbs to deadly levels. Official AQI meters peaked in November 2023 at 999; independent agencies like IQAir noted values as high as 1600.
The main offender is PM 2.5, a little particulate matter that gets right into the lungs. Players breathe faster and deeper during vigorous physical exercise like a Test match, therefore increasing their contact with these harmful particles.
Once, the Central Pollution Control Board cautioned that completing a marathon under such circumstances could cause two tablespoons of harmful ash to lodge in the lungs. Although it’s not as demanding as a marathon, cricket is nonetheless a top sports event in which perfect air is not optional.
A Cricket’s Past Disturbed by Environmental Debris
Over the previous ten years, Delhi’s air pollution has regularly affected cricket events:
- Two Ranji Trophy games were shelved when players “could not even stand outside.”
- 2017: Vomiting caused repeated pauses during a Test match, so Sri Lankan players don masks. Within the dressing room were oxygen cylinders.
- 2019: During a T20I, Bangladesh players started to throw up on the ground. Then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly commended teams for playing under “tuff [sic] conditions.”
- Bangladesh skipped practice due to dangerous air. Hence, a November match almost did not take place for the ODI World Cup.
- The BCCI keeps planning events in Delhi during peak pollution season in spite of these concerning incidences.
Why does Delhi remain a preferred venue?
According to the BCCI, rotational allocation of matches guarantees equitable distribution of funds among all state organizations. This logic falls short, though, when some places like Ahmedabad schedule several highly watched events in one year. Like this:
- Last November (23 tests ago), Eden Gardens hosted a Test.
- Four Tests between Eden Gardens’s last game and its next set for October 2024 will have been hosted in Ahmedabad.
- If rotation were really the top concern, why does Delhi—with its well-documented health hazards—keep getting matches in November?
Given the financial and political power dynamics, Player Welfare Cricket South Africa (CSA) is unlikely to object. The union of South African footballers released a subdued statement saying, “Player well-being must always be the main concern. Every interested party must acknowledge this and behave accordingly.”
However, the BCCI has no motivation to evolve without robust resistance. India does not have a players’ union; hence, cricketers have no official forum to express their worries. Even government warnings against outdoor activities on days with extreme pollution leave spectators vulnerable.
What ought to be done?
Eight months allow the BCCI to decide wisely:
- Move the Test Match Elsewhere: There are several options with 15 other suitable sites (apart from Green Park of Kanpur).
- Put in place a pollution clause; matches should be moved automatically should AQI be more than 300.
- Give Player Health top priority; why cannot the BCCI act proactively for bilateral series if the ICC may interfere in World Cup events?
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Final Thoughts
Arranging a Test match in Delhi in November is not only careless but also a public health risk. Towards players, officials, and supporters, the BCCI owes a responsibility of care. Ignoring Delhi’s poisonous air in order to meet political convenience or rotational targets is wrong.
