Smog 1-0 cricket: Poor visibility in Lucknow abandons India vs South Africa 4th T20I

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned without a toss after dense smog enveloped the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, making play impossible due to poor visibility. The abandonment has once again put the BCCI's Tours and Fixtures Committee under scrutiny, particularly over the decision to stage international matches in northern and eastern India during peak winter, when fog has repeatedly disrupted play in recent years. The choice to schedule a day-night fixture in Lucknow at this time of year has drawn criticism, given the predictable visibility issues.

A thick layer of smog settled over the ground, triggering serious safety concerns, particularly for fielders attempting to track the ball in the air. As a result, the toss was repeatedly delayed while match officials kept a close watch on conditions. Air quality in Lucknow remained hazardous on Wednesday evening, with AQI levels crossing 400, according to AQI.in.

However, the Uttar Pradesh government said AQI figures, quoted on social media and 'other platforms' were misleading.

"Lucknow’s AQI (Air Quality Index) stands at 174, which indicates moderate air



quality. Misleading AQI figures are being circulated on social media and other platforms, sourced from private air-quality apps," it said.

The on-field umpires scheduled as many as six inspections, spanning over three hours. Fans, who had come in huge numbers, waited patiently only to return home disappointed. At one point in the evening, the centre of the pitch was not visible from the stands.

The first inspection was scheduled for 6:50 pm, but with visibility showing no signs of improvement, further checks were carried out at 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm and again at 9:25 pm. During the 7:30 pm inspection, the umpires conducted an on-field visibility test, with one official positioned near the pitch asking his colleague at the boundary if they could clearly see each other and the ball. BCCI vice-president and UPCA president Rajiv Shukla also came out to assess the conditions during one of the inspections. The assessment confirmed that visibility remained unfit for play.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was among the fiercest critics of the BCCI, questioning why it decided to host the match in Lucknow, when Thiruvananthapuram with a better AQI, could have been a far better option.