Cricket World Cup 2023: After Bangladesh, Sri Lanka cancel training in Delhi due to ‘SEVERE’ air pollution, ICC to monitor situation

The two Asian teams are set to face each other on Monday (November 6) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Cricket World Cup 2023: After Bangladesh, Sri Lanka cancel training in Delhi due to ‘SEVERE’ air pollution, ICC to monitor situation

Sri Lanka players (Images via Reuters, ESPNcricinfo)

After Bangladesh, Sri Lanka canceled their training session on Saturday (November 4) due to severe air pollution in Delhi. Bangladesh called off their training after pollution reached severe plus at the national capital. The two Asian teams are set to face each other on Monday (November 6) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in the morning of Saturday was a whopping 407. For the unversed, zero to 50 AQI is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’ or ‘unhealthy’, 301 to 400 very poor, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) is unlikely to change the date but whether the match will occur on that day will be decided on the match day itself. The match officials usually check the air quality on the day of the match.

We are currently assessing the situation. The ICC and our hosts, the BCCI, take the well-being of all participants seriously and are monitoring the air quality in Delhi. We are taking expert advice to assess the situation.
ESPN quoted an ICC official as saying

English players used inhalers while training

Before England’s match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, some of the English players were spotted using inhalers during their training session to tackle air pollution. Picture of England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes using inhaler did rounds on the internet.

World Cup air pollution
Ben Stokes (Image via The Hindu)

Even India captain Rohit Sharma shared a concerning picture of a smoggy Mumbai from the plane and spoke on the matter in a press conference. The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jay Shah had confirmed before India’s match in Mumbai that there wouldn’t be fireworks after the match against Sri Lanka.

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