The fourth T20I was called off without play due to dense, unsafe fog in Lucknow, with India leading the series 2-1 ahead of the final match
THE fourth T20 international between India and South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to dense fog.
The match at the Ekana Stadium was called off after several pitch inspections, with umpires deeming conditions unsafe.
India leads the five-match series 2-1 ahead of the final game in Ahmedabad on Friday.
This series is a key part of the build-up to the T20 World Cup, which starts in February in India and Sri Lanka.
A official statement confirmed the match “has been abandoned due to excessive fog, making playing conditions unsafe”.
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a mask, sparking online discussions about pollution levels.
Monitoring organisation IQAir reported PM 2.5 levels at 78 micrograms per cubic metre in parts of Lucknow.
That reading is more than five times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum.
Pollution has been severe in northern India, with Delhi’s levels far higher during Lionel Messi’s visit on Monday.
Acrid smog often blankets the region when cool air traps pollutants from crop burning, factories and traffic.
Players completed initial drills before moving indoors for inspections as disappointed fans left the venue. – AFP
