Smog cover forces umpires to abandon two Ranji matches in Delhi

Rising pollution levels is a huge concern and harm the society very badly. After forcing the offices and schools to shut down, dense smog cover has now come to hinder with the cricketing action in the city after it caused cancellation of the first day’s play in two Ranji Trophy games here with players complaining of irritation in eyes and breathing problems.

The matches cancelled were group A league encounter between Bengal and Gujarat at the Feroz Shah Kotla and group C match at Karnail Singh Stadium between Tripura and Hyderabad. While poor light has been a reason for play being called off, it’s a rarity that players from both teams complain of burning eyes and breathing problem even when the light had considerably improved for an hour in the afternoon.

The post-Diwali smog, leading to low visibility and poor air quality, led to multiple inspections but health of the players was paramount for the match officials. At Kotla, both Manoj Tiwary and Parthiv Patel went out for toss but match referee P Ranganathan along with umpires Virender Sharma and Krishnamachari Bharathan decided against it. At 4 pm, umpires officially called off after multiple inspections.

Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule said: “The players were complaining that they were having burning sensation in their eyes. It’s bad out there. In fact Bengal bowling coach Ranadeb Bose was wearing a mask due to toxic air.”

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One of the DDCA officials told PTI: “The players also complained of breathing problems. If you stay out there for an hour, the air that you inhale will cause irreparable damage to the lungs.”

The situation in Delhi is so bad that there is prediction of smog continuing and little cricket being played. Some 1,800 primary schools in New Delhi have been ordered to shut down today as the national capital grapples with some of the worst pollution in recent years.

Data from the city’s pollution monitoring agency showed that concentrations of Particulate Matter or PM 10 (coarser pollutants) was over 1,200 micrograms per cubic metre this morning compared to a safe level of 100 at around 9 am in Delhi’s Anand Vihar. PM 2.5, a standard measure of air quality, was as much as 13 times the safe limit. These particles can cause respiratory diseases if one is subjected to prolonged exposure to unsafe levels.

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New Delhi’s air quality has steadily worsened over the years, a consequence of rapid urbanisation that brings pollution from diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and industrial emissions.