FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow due to excessive smog, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajeev Shukla has said the board will review the scheduling of matches in North India between 15 December and 15 January 2026.
The match at the Ekana Stadium was officially abandoned without a ball being bowled due to what was termed “excessive fog”. However, a dense layer of smog had engulfed the venue, significantly reducing visibility. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lucknow remained in the hazardous category, crossing 400 on Wednesday, raising concerns around player safety and welfare.
Air quality issues have persisted across multiple venues during the series. Dharamsala recorded ‘poor’ AQI levels on match day, while conditions during the second T20I in New Chandigarh fell into the ‘severe’ category. Questions have been raised over the BCCI’s operational planning, particularly whether sufficient historical weather and air-quality data was considered, or if alternative scheduling such as earlier start times that could have helped ensure play for spectators.
Speaking to ANI, Shukla said, “The match had to be cancelled due to fog. The people were upset about it. We will need to review the scheduling of matches between 15 December to 15 January in north India to determine whether we need to shift them to south India or west India. Domestic matches are also being affected due to fog. It is a serious issue”.
During interactions with the media, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also weighed in, urging Shukla to consider Kerala as a host destination during this period, saying “Aaiye Kerala (come to Kerala).”
The 15 December to 15 January window will also feature domestic cricket, with the Vijay Hazare Trophy scheduled from 24 December to 18 January. Jaipur is among the venues listed for the competition.
The fifth and final T20I between India and South Africa is set to be played on Friday in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, India’s ODI series against New Zealand will begin on 11 January, with matches scheduled in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore.
