World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka clear air on possible venue change due to Delhi air pollution; ICC consults medical expert

Amid uncertainty surrounding their ICC World Cup match against Bangladesh owing to alarming levels of air pollution in New Delhi, the Sri Lankan team has insisted they are in touch with a medical panel and will follow ICC’s instructions on the matter, but have not asked for a change in venue.

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The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading in the national capital, where the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match takes place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, has gone past the 400-mark that is considered critical.

The deteriorating air quality in Delhi has forced the Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi teams to opt out of one of their practice sessions ahead of the game.

Sri Lanka Team Manager Mahinda Halangoda, however, clarified that Sri Lanka have not pleaded with the ICC for a change of venue for Monday’s match.

“We are constantly in touch with our medical panel back in Sri Lanka. Actually, the professor who is in charge is already in India. He had come for a conference and we are in touch with him through the team doctor.

“Definitely we will be looking at the index. But obviously, we will be guided by the ICC and I think they have a medical panel here and, so, they will be giving us instructions.

“Today when we came, we were told to wear masks. But it depends on what the outside index is, and then we’ll make a call on it,” said Halangonda.

Read | As Delhi gasps for clean air, CM Arvind Kejriwal calls for emergency meeting

The Lankan team was forced to cancel its training on Saturday after air pollution reached dangerous levels with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering above the 400-mark for the last four days.

Asked if the Lankan team had placed a request with the ICC to shift the venue of the match, Halangoda said: “We didn’t make a request to change (the venue). But we were asking the ICC what would happen because when we came here, we saw the Bangladesh team had cancelled (training) and we saw the outside environment.

“So, we just asked them what’s the plan. They said they will have a discussion, and then they’ll come back. I think they have installed some equipment here, and they’ve got specialists to check and they are helping them out.”

ICC consults leading pulmonologist

Meanwhile, the ICC has sought advice from renowned pulmonologist Randeep Guleria and also put in place mitigation measures like installing water sprinklers and adding air purifiers in the dressing rooms to curb the air pollution.

“They have already informed us that they are planning to go ahead. So, we will do exactly what the ICC tells us to do,” Halangoda said.

Sri Lanka have an overwhelming 42-9 head-to-head record against Bangladesh in 53 ODIs and skipper Kusal Mendis said he has lot of confidence on his team to deliver the goods this time as well.

“We have played Bangladesh so many times previously and have all the confidence in the players. We have actually had instances where we played badly but come out strongly. So, I’m quite confident that the players will do very well in tomorrow’s game.”

Ranked ninth out of 10 teams, Bangladesh are playing for pride, while Sri Lanka are little better placed at seventh in the standings and will look to hold on to the position to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

With inputs from PTI