BCCI Defends Scheduling India-South Africa Test in Delhi Amid Air Pollution Concerns
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has defended the board’s decision to host the India-South Africa Test match in Delhi from November 14 to 18, a period that has often seen hazardous air pollution levels in the national capital.
“We’ve taken all relevant factors into account and followed the rotation policy after consulting all stakeholders. Pollution at that time of year isn’t a guaranteed issue every year,” Saikia told The Indian Express.
The timing, however, has sparked debate given Delhi’s pollution record. On November 18 last year, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) peaked at 999—well above the “severe” category—while Swiss firm IQAir recorded it at 1600, as reported by The New York Times. The extreme pollution led to emergency-level advisories, school closures, and restrictions on outdoor activity.
This isn't the first time air quality has disrupted cricket in Delhi. In 2016, two Ranji Trophy matches were cancelled due to smog-related health complaints. In 2017, Sri Lankan players wore masks during a Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, while a 2019 ODI saw two Bangladesh players vomit on the field. Similar concerns arose during the 2023 ODI World Cup, with Bangladesh canceling training sessions in the lead-up to their match against Sri Lanka.
Despite the risks, Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary Ashok Sharma said preparations are underway to ensure players’ safety.
“We’ll take all necessary steps to ensure players are comfortable,” Sharma said. “The Arun Jaitley Stadium is in a relatively open area with more greenery, so air quality tends to be better than in many other parts of the city. Also, Delhi hasn’t hosted a Test match for some time, and we were allotted this fixture as per the rotation calendar. Pollution levels are usually worse in December than in mid-November.”
India’s home season kicks off with a two-Test series against the West Indies, in Ahmedabad (October 2–6) and Kolkata (October 10–14). The South Africa series follows, beginning with the Delhi Test (November 14–18), then moving to Guwahati.
The series continues with three ODIs in Ranchi (November 30), Raipur (December 3), and Visakhapatnam (December 6), followed by five T20Is across Cuttack (December 9), Mullanpur (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17), and Ahmedabad (December 19).