The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI moved swiftly to address fan anger after the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned due to dense smog, with vice-president Rajiv Shukla assuring that weather patterns will be factored more carefully into future scheduling decisions.
The clash at the Ekana Stadium, where not a single ball was bowled, triggered widespread criticism of the board’s planning, particularly the decision to stage multiple winter internationals in north India. Speaking exclusively to India Today after the backlash, Shukla acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the cancellation.
“The Lucknow T20I was cancelled, and everyone is disappointed about it. All preparations were in place, everything was ready, and inspections were carried out right till the last moment. After that, the match was called off due to fog,” he said.
The Lucknow game was scheduled to begin at 7 pm, but poor visibility delayed the toss and led to nearly six inspections before match officials finally called off play around 9:30 pm. By then, air quality levels had remained in the hazardous zone, leaving both players and fans exposed to uncomfortable conditions. Shukla admitted that mid-December to mid-January poses consistent challenges in northern India and said this reality must influence future calendars.
“Fog is a very big problem from December 15 to January 15. So I feel that while rescheduling in the future, this aspect will also have to be kept in mind,” he added, while stressing that India’s diverse geography allows flexibility in venue allocation.
The BCCI vice-president also underlined that pollution is not restricted to one city, pointing out that air quality issues extend across the National Capital Region and several parts of Uttar Pradesh. He explained that smog creates real on-field difficulties, particularly for fielders tracking the ball near the boundary or attempting high catches.
