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Cricket Fog-Out: Why Shashi Tharoor Urges BCCI to Shift Matches South

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was called off because of heavy fog. This prompted Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to publicly question why matches are scheduled in North India during this season. He suggested the BCCI should move these games to South India, where visibility isn't a problem. Even a BCCI official admitted they need to review scheduling for the December-January period.

Key Points: Shashi Tharoor Urges BCCI to Shift Winter Cricket to South India

  • Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questions scheduling cricket in North India during winter
  • The fourth India-South Africa T20I in Lucknow was abandoned due to excessive fog
  • BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla acknowledges the need to review scheduling from Dec-Jan
  • The upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy and India-New Zealand ODIs face similar winter risks
3 min read

No visibility issue: Tharoor urges BCCI to shift cricket matches to South India

After a T20I was abandoned due to fog in Lucknow, Shashi Tharoor questions scheduling matches in North India, urging BCCI to move them South.

"They can come and play in South India, as there is no issue of pollution. There is no visibility issue, and fans can enjoy the match as well. - Shashi Tharoor"

New Delhi, December 18

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor urged the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) to organise cricket matches scheduled for North India to South India, pointing out there is "no visibility issue" during winters in that region.

The fourth T20I of the five-match series between India and South Africa was abandoned due to excessive fog at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. India is leading the T20I series 2-1, with one more match to go.

Tharoor questioned the logic behind scheduling matches in North India during this time of the year, saying, "They can come and play in South India, as there is no issue of pollution. There is no visibility issue, and fans can enjoy the match as well. Why should matches be scheduled in North India during this time of the year? Rather, they should be scheduled in South India."

Earlier, speaking to ANI, BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla had 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".

Notably, the window from December 15 to January 15 will witness domestic competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a 50-over tournament, taking place from December 24 onwards to January 18, with Jaipur being one of the venues for the tournament. The final T20I between India and South Africa will be held on Friday in Ahmedabad.

The ODI series between India and New Zealand, during which one-day only stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be in action, will also take place from January 11 onwards, with matches scheduled in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore.

Ahead of the fourth T20I, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the remaining T20I series against South Africa due to illness, the BCCI said on December 15. In place of Axar Patel, the BCCI Men's Selection Committee named Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement for the remaining T20I matches against South Africa.

South Africa Squad: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Tony de Zorzi, Lutho Sipamla, Kwena Maphaka

India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As a cricket fan from Chennai, I fully support this! We have amazing stadiums here and in Bangalore, Hyderabad. Let the fans enjoy a full match without cancellations. It's not fair to those who bought tickets in Lucknow.
R
Rahul R
Respectfully, while the weather logic is sound, we can't just ignore North Indian fans. Maybe the solution is better scheduling and having day-night matches in the North during this period, not completely shifting everything south. Balance is key.
A
Aryan P
Finally someone said it! Every year we face this issue. BCCI's planning is so poor. Domestic tournaments also get affected. Just look at the calendar and use common sense. South and West India are ideal in winter. 🇮🇳
M
Michael C
Interesting perspective. From an outsider's view, it seems like a practical solution to a predictable problem. Other cricket boards also schedule matches based on seasonal weather patterns. It's just good management.
K
Kavya N
True yaar! The pollution in North India during winter is another big factor. Players' health and performance matter. Southern cities have cleaner air. Let's give fans there a chance to see live matches too. #CommonSense

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