The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was washed out on Wednesday. Extreme fog at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow resulted in the match being unplayable. The umpires made multiple inspections. They decided the visibility conditions weren’t safe enough for play, prompting this decision. The match was scheduled to begin with the toss at 13:00 GMT, but as conditions worsened, officials made the call to abandon the game around 16:00.
India currently leads the five-match series 2-1. This makes the abandonment of the match all the more heartbreaking to both teams and all their supporters. This fifth and final meeting of the series will take place in Ahmedabad on Friday. This close match up makes the stakes even hotter for both teams!
In the lead-up to that scheduled match, Indian player Hardik Pandya wore a mask on the pitch. This action helped raise awareness about the hazardous air quality that engulfed Lucknow that day. As mentioned on these pages, reports indicated air quality index jumped to nearly 400 during the competition. This level is considered hazardous. These dangerous circumstances were a serious health risk for athletes and attendees both and therefore warranted extra caution.
The foggy weather that has blanketed much of northern India this winter has led to widespread uncertainty about its impact on the rest of this closely-contested series. Not being able to play on Wednesday changed the game a little in terms of standings. It created a nervousness among fans on what would be a decider match in Ahmedabad.
In the meantime, as another match looms, authorities can hardly be blamed for continuing to keep a close eye on air quality levels. Players and officials on both sides are dreaming of better weather, which would enable an uninterrupted finish to this highly competitive series.
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