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Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh Team cancelled their training session in New Delhi due to city's severe air pollution. This decision comes as Bangladesh's team director Khaled Mahmud emphasised the need to maintain the players' health in light of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, which has seen the Air Quality Index (AQI) surge past 400, entering the 'severe' category.
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Arriving in Delhi for their critical World Cup clash against Sri Lanka set for November 6, Monday, Bangladesh now face a new challenge amid their lacklustre show in the tournament. The original plan included three training sessions at Arun Jaitley Stadium, but with the city grappling with an air emergency that led to school closures and traffic restrictions, practice plans have been upended.
Mahmud, addressing the media, explained the rationale behind the cancellation of the training session. "We actually had a training session today, but due to worsening conditions, we didn't take the chance. We have two more training days. Some of us developed coughing, so there's a risk factor. We don't want to get sick. We don't know if things will improve, but we have training tomorrow. We want all the players to be fit for the important game coming up on November 6," Mahmud said.
He acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation, hoping for improved conditions that would allow the next scheduled sessions to proceed without compromising health.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, managed by India's Ministry of Earth Sciences, the AQI in the city was "likely to be in upper end of severe category" on Friday. "The air quality is likely to improve marginally but remain in severe category from 04.11.2023 to 06.11.2023. The outlook for subsequent six days: The air quality is likely to remain in severe to very poor category," the ministry said in a bulletin on Friday as reported by Cricinfo.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan team is also vigilantly monitoring the Air Quality Index (AQI) and might call off their Saturday practice if the pollution does not subside. A cutoff level for the AQI has been set at 400, yet the team might still opt for caution even if measurements fall below this threshold.
Sri Lankan team carries with them the harrowing memories of competing under the toxic haze of Delhi's air from a 2017 Test match at the same venue.
Players had suffered respiratory issues during a Test match, leading to on-field medical interventions and the donning of protective masks.
Earlier, ahead of India's World Cup fixture against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma voiced his alarm about the escalating air pollution levels not just in Mumbai but across the nation. He emphasised the significance of creating a safer environment for the generations to follow, underscoring the need for them to "live without any fear" in their own country.
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