The abandonment of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow due to hazardous air quality has triggered a wider debate around venue selection, with Congress MP and noted cricket follower Shashi Tharoor openly questioning the BCCI’s decision-making.
With AQI levels touching 411 and dense smog forcing officials to call off the match, the issue quickly moved beyond cricket — prompting the BCCI to respond and explain the logic behind the schedule.
🌫️ What Happened in Lucknow?
The India vs South Africa T20I at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium never got underway.
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Toss scheduled for 6:30 PM IST, delayed multiple times
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Persistent fog and smog reduced visibility to unsafe levels
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Umpires conducted repeated inspections
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Match abandoned around 9:30 PM IST
The severity of the situation was underlined when Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a surgical mask during warm-ups.
🗣️ Shashi Tharoor Slams Venue Choice
Reacting on social media platform X, Shashi Tharoor criticised both the air quality and the scheduling decision:
“Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog… and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where AQI is about 68 right now!”
Tharoor’s comment struck a chord with fans and experts alike, reigniting concerns over player safety and winter matches in North India.
🧮 BCCI’s Response: ‘Scheduling Is Not That Simple’
Responding to the criticism, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained that venue selection involves far more than just air-quality data.
According to Saikia, the schedule is prepared months — sometimes years — in advance, factoring in:
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International cricket calendar
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Broadcast commitments
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Team travel logistics
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Venue availability
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Rotation policy among state associations
He stressed that no forecast can accurately predict fog or AQI spikes months ahead, especially during winter.
The decision to host matches in Lucknow was taken well in advance, based on established scheduling frameworks and logistical feasibility, not real-time environmental conditions.
⚠️ Player Safety Still the Priority
Saikia reiterated that once conditions were deemed unsafe, officials acted responsibly by abandoning the match.
The umpires’ repeated inspections and the final call reflected the BCCI’s stance that player health cannot be compromised, regardless of commercial or competitive pressures.
🔄 What’s Next?
The series now moves to Ahmedabad, where the fifth and final T20I will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on December 19.
Meanwhile, attention is also on Shubman Gill’s availability after he was ruled out of the Lucknow game due to a toe injury sustained during net practice.
📌 Bigger Picture
The Lucknow episode has once again raised important questions:
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Should winter international matches be reduced in North India?
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Should AQI and climate trends play a bigger role in future scheduling?
While the BCCI insists the process is data-driven and complex, voices like Tharoor’s ensure the conversation around environment, safety and sport remains firmly in the spotlight.
