Delhi: West Indies team is playing the second Test of its 2-Test series against India from October 10 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. According to the original program of this series, this test was to be held in Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Two factors are very special in the playing of this Delhi Test. Firstly, the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Team India and the absence of any big star in West Indies team is affecting the popularity of both these teams. The proof of this was given by the almost empty stadium of Ahmedabad. The second is to play in Delhi during the Dussehra-Diwali season.

October and Delhi’s pollution

These days, it has become a historical tradition to be in the Supreme Court every year to discuss the issue of pollution in Delhi and its surrounding areas. Despite the ban on firecrackers, their glow and sounds in the sky of Delhi are not hidden from anyone and the air quality index remains so bad that Delhi is counted among the worst cities in the world on the index of living environment. So why are you playing Test in Delhi these days? It is not that those who make the schedule of international matches in the BCCI office would not know this.

The situation has become worse than before.

So far 35 Tests have been held in Delhi and only 5 of these started in October: in 1952, 1979, 1983, 1996 and 2008, that is, for the first time in almost 17 years, there is a Test in Delhi this month. The situation in Delhi was not so bad till a few years ago. However, according to the current report, there are less chances of a foggy morning in Delhi for the first three days of the test, but the biggest issue is pollution. According to AQI, a level of more than 300 is considered ‘very bad’ and a level of more than 400 is considered ‘severe’.

On November 18 last year, AQI officially reached 999. As a result, lockdown like situation occurred. People were advised to leave their homes only in case of emergency. Schools were closed. It is clear that it affects the players also. Last year Diwali was on 31 October-1 November. This year on October 20, from which it can be estimated how AQI will be affected.

Matches have been canceled earlier in Delhi

A test match is not a marathon, but it is an athletic activity and doctors also advise not to be in the open air too much. In the first week of November 2016, two Ranji Trophy matches were abandoned because players ‘couldn’t even stand outside’. There is an example of Sri Lankan players playing wearing masks in Delhi. In that 2017 Test, Sri Lankan players were repeatedly walking out of the ground and vomiting. Oxygen cylinders were kept in the dressing room. Mohammed Shami and Suranga Lakmal vomited on the field.

Hopefully nothing like this will happen this time but a better schedule was needed.