'Dense smog… AQI 411, no cricket possible': Shashi Tharoor’s stinging post after Lucknow T20I is lost to 'excessive fog'

NEW DELHI: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa never saw a ball bowled on Wednesday night, but it still triggered a fierce debate after senior Congress leader and noted cricket enthusiast Shashi Tharoor took aim at the deteriorating air quality and questioned the decision to host the match in Lucknow.

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Persistent fog — officially cited as “excessive fog” — enveloped the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium throughout the evening, making play impossible. The toss, scheduled for 6:30 pm IST, was first delayed to 6:50 pm before a series of inspections were conducted. With visibility showing no improvement, umpires finally abandoned the match around 9:30 pm.




As players waited through long delays before retreating to the dressing rooms, frustration mounted both inside and outside the stadium. The issue soon spilled onto social media, where Tharoor delivered a sharp critique of the conditions and the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) venue selection.

“Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow,” Tharoor posted on X. “But thanks to dense smog, pervasive in most north Indian cities, and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where AQI is about 68 right now!”

Tharoor’s post struck a chord, amplifying concerns about player welfare and fan experience amid hazardous pollution levels. Air quality in Lucknow remained firmly in the danger zone, with PM2.5 levels reportedly more than five times the World Health Organization’s recommended limits. The severity was visible on the field, with Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya spotted wearing a surgical mask during warm-ups — an image that quickly went viral.

A BCCI statement later confirmed the match was abandoned due to unsafe playing conditions caused by fog. India, the reigning T20 world champions, continue to lead the five-match series 2–1, with the final game scheduled in Ahmedabad on December 19.