Cricket is often compared to religion in India, and is seen as a sport that binds people across the nation. The country has come a long way, and cricket has evolved and flourished. Better stadiums, higher viewership, and bigger revenue. Whenever international teams visit India, there is a level of expectancy in terms of facilities, hospitality, and professionalism. However, when the T20I against South Africa was abandoned at Eknath Stadium in Lucknow, it came as a major embarrassment for the Indian cricket organisers.
The call-off was necessitated by thick smog accompanied by poor visibility and an Air Quality Index (AQI) that was over 400. The situation was dangerous for players and match officials, and a very serious indictment on the gross negligence of the pre-planning team and the lack of environmental assessment. Their decision to go ahead with the game under extremely unfavourable conditions manifests their disturbing indifference and lack of foresight, particularly in a country that boasts itself a cricketing superpower.
The weather situation can be horrible in places like Lucknow, Delhi, New Chandigarh, and even Dharamsala, mainly during the winter. The silence of the Board of Control for Cricket about the air pollution and smog problems plaguing the place is a clear indication that it is out of touch with the environment. The BCCI, along with other stakeholders, is looked up to as the guardian of safety, but what transpired on Wednesday speaks more of a reactionary than a proactive approach. Disregarding timely weather and air quality forecasts or treating them as insignificant risks is an unforgivable failure because it disrespects the safety of players, officials, and spectators.
This matter also leads to the query about the existence and effectiveness of enviro-risk protocols. Despite the claim of the BCCI that it follows worldwide rules, its decision to push through a game in the worst air quality conditions tells a different story altogether. Proper contingency planning ought to have considered rescheduling, an alternative venue, or at least obtaining an air quality and visibility check prior to game arrangements.
This episode is an example of the general environmental neglect trend in India, wherein air pollution has reached such levels. The ecologically damaging phenomena should, in fact, be illuminated through various fora, rather than deliberately kept in the shadows. Not heeding to the meteorological and environmental bodies' warnings and refusing to take down the match sends deceptive signals that the economy and entertainment come before health and safety.
The repercussion of this match discontinuation is not only on safety grounds but also economy-wise. It has sullied the image of India as a vigilant and dependable venue and puts a question mark on its preparedness to hold global events when pollution is on the rise. This might be a cause of concern for foreign players and supporters; hence, the international cricket landscape may have a different opinion of Indian cricket.
In the end, the cold war with the smog and the background noise of the deserted stands at the abandoned T20I in Lucknow must help the Indian cricket administration to wake up from the slumber of complacency and insufficient risk management that it is showing. As one who knows how to derive the utmost happiness out of sporting achievements, what India ought to do is to demonstrate through action that safety and sustainability are indispensable components of its sports philosophy. Only then will India be worthy of being called one of the leading cricketing nations in the world.
