Sri Lanka’s cricket board has complained to the sport’s governing body about the poor air quality in which its players have been compelled to play a Test match in the Indian capital New Delhi.
Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said Sri Lanka Cricket made the complaint on Tuesday to the International Cricket Council, saying “we can’t play like this as four players had vomited” due to the pollution.
He said the ICC had informed them that it will take necessary steps. However it is not certain what action ICC had taken.
Sri Lanka and India played their third and final Test ending on Wednesday at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
The match was marred by severe pollution, with fast bowlers from both sides vomiting Tuesday amid thick smog.
In an unprecedented move, Sri Lankan players wore facemasks while fielding to combat the toxic air, which interrupted play on day two as the visitors protested the choking conditions.
“It was a tough time. The thing is, in Sri Lanka we are not used that, so that’s why we struggled (on) the first two days,” said Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal.
“But after that we needed to continue the game. We told the boys we have to forget about that and we need to play the game.
“Today is a fantastic day. It feels like Sri Lanka,” quipped the captain, referring to the less smoggy weather Wednesday.
The US embassy website on Wednesday showed concentrations of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants hit 234, better than a day earlier but still nearly nine times the World Health Organization’s safe limit.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has said Delhi could be dropped as a venue during winter when pollution spikes.
