India vs Bangladesh: Arvind Kejriwal confident that pollution won't affect the Delhi T20I

Team India is all set to host their Asian neighbors for a three-match T20 series and a two-match Test series. But even before the first ball has been bowled, the series has landed in cold waters for a plethora of reasons. Firstly, it was the standoff between the Bangladesh cricketers and the BCB.

The Bangladesh cricketers had gone on an indefinite strike, putting forward an 11-point demand list in front of the country’s apex cricketing body. And, now after the issue has been resolved, the focus has shifted towards the hazardous air of Delhi- the venue of the first T20I on November 03.

It is that time of the year where Delhi’s air turns hazardous due to a plethora of reasons including farmers burning stubble in Haryana and Punjab. The air quality deteriorated on Monday, a day after Diwali, plummeting to the “severe” category, instigating the debate as to whether the BCCI should have scheduled the game in the national capital at this time of the year.

According to the BCCI officials, the rotation policy and the travel route for the visiting team had forced the apex body to schedule the game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the country’s capital.

Arvind Kejriwal positive about the successful staging of the T20I in Delhi

However, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday hoped pollution will not affect the India-Bangladesh T20I, emphasizing that his Aam Aadmi Party government has been taking significant steps like an odd-even scheme to improve the air quality.

“I hope that pollution will not come in the way of cricket. To reduce pollution, we are also implementing the odd-even scheme from November 4. I have seen that in this season, matches have been played earlier as well. Match should be played in Delhi.” Kejriwal told reporters at the Delhi Secretariat as quoted by India Today.

A senior BCCI official, while acknowledging there are practical concerns, has quoted last week by the Times of India, saying that the board had factored the post-Diwali air pollution and were hopeful that the players won’t face any health hazards.

“Look, we have factored in the post-Diwali air pollution in Delhi but since the match is a week away, we are hopeful that the players won’t face any health hazards,” a senior BCCI official said last week as quoted by Times of India.

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