Un unusual situation unfolded during the Ranji Trophy match being played in Mumbai on Thursday, when players were forced to wear masks on the field due to pollution and dust.
The match between Mumbai and Delhi was clearly affected, raising concerns about the players’ health.
The Mumbai Cricket Association ground at BKC has hosted several domestic matches in recent years, but this time, ongoing construction work nearby created difficulties.
In the final session of the day, the dust and pollution became so severe that some fielders had to wear masks for about 30 minutes.
Support staff sitting outside the dressing room were also seen wearing masks.
Concerns of Players and Team Management
During the match, Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan, his younger brother Musheer Khan, and all-rounder Himanshu Singh were seen fielding while wearing masks. The conditions were so bad that some players from the Delhi team also requested masks.
A source associated with the Mumbai team told the Times of India, “Mumbai’s team management has written to the Mumbai Cricket Association about the problem of pollution due to the under-construction building here, which has led to a lot of dust and pollution on the ground. We’ve requested the MCA to take it up with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Players and members of support staff sitting just outside the dressing room too were forced to wear masks. In fact, a few players of the Delhi team also requested us to give a few masks to them. Running on the ground can be difficult in such conditions.”
On Thursday evening, the Air Quality Index in the BKC area was recorded at 156, which falls under the ‘unhealthy’ category. This clearly indicates that playing on the field was not easy.
Impact on the Match and Future Situation
Mumbai’s fast bowler Mohit Awasthi also spoke about the pollution.
He said, “The construction work was going on (nearby), because of which people were feeling the pollution. That’s why we were wearing masks.” Awasthi had a brilliant bowling performance that day, taking 5 wickets for 62 runs in 16.4 overs. Amidst the fog and poor visibility, the Delhi team was bowled out for 221 runs. Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan played a brilliant innings, scoring 118 runs off 218 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes. This was his third century of the season.
The day’s play had to be stopped five to seven minutes before the scheduled time due to bad light. At stumps, Mumbai had scored 13 runs for the loss of one wicket.
The conditions caused by pollution have raised questions not only about this match but also about future matches to be played at this ground.
