World Cup 2023: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka contest goes ahead in Delhi despite air pollution concerns

Despite the worsening air pollution that has affected citizens of Delhi, the 2023 Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka went ahead at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.

On Sunday, the air quality in the national capital went to “severe” category, raising uncertainty over the World Cup fixture.

This led to some players and coaches from both teams training with face masks on the eve of the match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Earlier practice sessions were also cancelled while some Bangladesh players who have asthma were confined to their hotel.

Early in the Sri Lanka innings levels of the most dangerous PM2.5 particles — so tiny they can enter the bloodstream — stood at 184 micrograms per cubic metre according to IQAir, more than 12 times the daily maximum recommended by the World Health Organization.

The Swiss-based international monitoring company ranked Delhi as the world most-polluted major city on Monday.

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines air quality is usually assessed and considered by match officials and is treated as other weather matters.

Pollution in Delhi hit severe levels during a Test match in December, 2017 when Sri Lankan players came out wearing masks after the tea break.

Indian bowler Mohammed Shami vomited on the pitch.

At Sunday practice, Sri Lanka team manager Mahinda Halangoda refused to rule out similar precautions in the game.

“Obviously, today when we came, we were wearing masks, and we were told to wear masks,” he said.

“But it depends exactly what the outside index is, and then we’ll make a call on it.”

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said the air quality “is not ideal”.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to bowl first in Monday’s game.

Bangladesh are out of the race for the semi-finals while Sri Lanka only have a mathematical chance of making the final-four.

Bangladesh have made one change with Tanzim Hasan Sakib coming in for Mustafizur Rahman, who is “not fit enough”.

Shakib said: “We have to be technically sound and also mentally sound”.

Sri Lanka made two changes with Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva replacing Dimuth Karunaratne and Dushan Hemantha.

The two teams are fighting to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The top seven teams from this World Cup will gain entry into the tournament where hosts Pakistan will have automatic qualification.

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Liton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt/wkt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Richard Illingworth (ENG)

TV Umpire: Nitin Menon (IND)

Match Referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)

With inputs from AFP