Delhi to not host any international tie before 2020

The Indian team is currently facing Sri Lanka at Feroz Shah Kotla in the third and final Test match. And only recently, a lot of debate arose regarding the choice of venue. Delhi, one of India’s most inhabited cities has recently been plagued with severe smog. After trailing the series 1-0, the Islanders came into the final Test hoping for a win. However, the smog played spoilsport. It is the visitors who have been at the receiving end mostly owing to the hazardous conditions in Delhi. And now experts and doctors have opined that Delhi should be barred from hosting sporting events. The athletes are exposed to serious health risks which endanger their career.

However, the positive news is that Delhi would not be hosting any international cricket, not before 2020, thanks to BCCI‘s rotational policy. With international ties out of the equation, the question arises for IPL and other domestic fixtures. The BCCI is yet to suppose a concrete decision and only time will reveal if IPL matches get a nod ahead to be hosted in the capital.

BCCI on Delhi’s next international date

A senior BCCI official privy to the development was quoted by PTI, “BCCI is pitching for their exclusive home season slot in February-March every year. They will only get that slot in February-March 2020 as per the new Future Tours Programme [FTP]. Therefore, Kotla may or may not be in line for a Test match before 2020. As per the rotation policy, Kotla has now got its Test match and in November it got an ODI. Their turn will not come next year as India will perhaps have at the most one full-fledged series.”

He added, “There are other venues waiting for their turn. Similarly in 2019, when the fresh Future Tours and Programme [FTP] starts, it will take some time for Kotla to get another game. Now what will be the environmental condition in 2020 can’t be predicted in 2017. So if Kotla doesn’t get a match, it will be purely because of rotation.”