NEW DELHI: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka find themselves in a challenging situation as they prepare to face each other in smog-choked New Delhi in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup. The Indian capital, with a population of 30 million, has once again topped the list of the world's most polluted cities, according to monitoring firm IQAir.
The deteriorating air quality has prompted concerns from both cricket teams. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have had to cancel their training sessions in New Delhi over the past few days.
Bangladesh's coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, expressed the team's apprehension, stating, "We were concerned. We are trying to minimise our exposure to the outdoors as much as possible. We need to practise, but we have to be cautious about the long-term effects of these conditions."
"The air quality is affecting both teams. It's not ideal, but we have no choice. We have to play in the conditions in front of us," Hathurusingha added.
In an effort to mitigate the situation, World Cup organisers have already banned firework displays at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium and at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to avoid worsening the pollution problem.
The issue of air pollution in New Delhi isn't new to cricket. In 2017, the Sri Lankan cricket team played a Test match against India in the city while wearing surgical masks due to hazardous pollution levels.
Hathurusingha revealed that some players, who have asthma, refrained from outdoor practice and opted to stay indoors. "Even for practice, we're very conscious. We train what we have to train and return to the dressing room. They don't spend time outside unless they are bowling or batting," he noted.
Bangladesh, with just one win from seven matches in the tournament, have already been eliminated from contention for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup champions, have won two matches but face a steep mathematical challenge if they are to secure a spot in the final four. As the teams continue to grapple with the smog, their focus remains on the remaining matches in this challenging World Cup campaign.
(With inputs from AFP)
