BCCI responds to ticket refund demands after IND vs SA 4th T20I gets called off

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally reacted to the ticket refund demands after the fourth T20I between India and South Africa got abandoned due to excessive fog and poor visibility with a single ball being bowled. This sudden cancellation sparked significant frustration among the thousands of spectators who had gathered, leading to immediate calls for ticket refunds.

BCCI issues official statement after IND vs SA 4th T20I abandoned

In response to the situation, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is the 'competent authority' tasked with overseeing the full refund process. While the BCCI provides the regulatory framework, the local association is responsible for the logistics of returning money to the affected fans.

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According to the BCCI’s standing refund policy, spectators are generally eligible for a reimbursement of the ticket price—minus any applicable fees, if a match is cancelled or abandoned before the first ball is delivered. Since no play was possible in this instance, the process for returning funds to ticket holders is expected to proceed in accordance with these guidelines.

"That is under the domain of the state cricket association, which is UPCA. So, this game's hosting state is the UPCA. So, they will be able to tell you about this, and they are the competent authority. Everything in ticketing is done by the state association, as the BCCI just gives them the hosting rights and all these things are taken care of and are under the domain of the state association," Saikia told IANS.

The fourth T20I at the Ekana Cricket Stadium came to a disappointing end after persistent weather issues. Despite multiple inspections by on-field umpires K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan and Rohan Pandit, along with reserve umpire J.R. Madanagopal, the conditions failed to improve. The match was officially called off at 9:30 PM, leaving fans without a single ball of play.

The cancellation has also reignited a long-standing debate over the BCCI's decision to schedule international fixtures in North India during the winter months. This was the first T20I ever staged in Lucknow in December, and it now holds the unwanted distinction of being the first major international match in India abandoned due to excessive fog. The severity of the situation was underscored by the hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI); seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya was even seen wearing a mask on the field during the wait.

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This Lucknow incident is an exceptional weather condition: BCCI secretary

Critics argue that such scheduling risks wasting vital preparation time ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup in February and March. However, Saikia defended the move, suggesting that the total washout in Lucknow was an "exceptional situation" rather than a foreseeable scheduling conflict.

“No, it is a solitary weather situation. Normally we have this kind of weather in the month of January. This time it is quite early, number one, and number two, we had a match in Dharamsala also the other day. Dharamsala is a much colder place. So you cannot predict fog, and rain. Nowadays cricket is a throughout the year annual event for 12, and we have to have the matches.

“When we saw that there were big disturbances from fog in northern India in the month of January, we already restructured our domestic cricket matches. That's why there is a big gap between Ranji Trophy matches in North India. If you look at our schedule, we have bifurcated the Ranji Trophy matches into two parts.

“During the first part of January, we are not scheduling any matches in North India from last year onwards, if you follow that. This Lucknow incident is an exceptional weather condition. We had three matches in North India - one in Chandigarh, Dharamsala and one in Lucknow - all are in the same build,” he elaborated.

India are currently leading the series 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The action now moves to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the fifth and final game on December 19.