The first India-Sri Lanka ODI is likely moving out of Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. The DDCA asked the BCCI to shift the December 13 game due to high pollution levels and ongoing stadium renovations. “More than the renovation work, we want the match to be moved because of AQI in Delhi.”
The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka is all set to be moved out of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to shift the December 13 game out of the national capital.
According to sources, the DDCA is believed to have written to the BCCI, citing its inability to host the match on the scheduled date. The association is believed to have cited multiple reasons for the request, including the pollution levels in Delhi at this time of the year. The stadium, of course, is also undergoing renovation.
Sources have revealed that the DDCA is concerned about the poor air quality in the capital, which is notorious for its high AQI levels. Last December, the capital recorded an average AQI of 351, with similar levels recorded on Monday (November 2). The DDCA wants to be safe rather than sorry, given its past experience.
“More than the renovation work, we want the match to be moved because of AQI in Delhi,” a source familiar with the development told Cricbuzz.
During a Test match between India and Sri Lanka in December 2017, some Sri Lankan players were seen throwing up on the ground. DDCA sources say they do not want a repeat of that fracas. The association is believed to have asked for another game sometime next year.
This match was supposed to be the first of the three matches in the ODI series, with the other two scheduled to be played in Bengaluru on December 16 and Ahmedabad on December 19. The BCCI will now have to rejig the schedule of the series.
The BCCI had previously dismissed reports that the match was being moved out, with secretary Devajit Saikia categorically denying plans to shift the game.
“Reports suggesting that the India-Sri Lanka ODI match scheduled in Delhi may be shifted to Ahmedabad are not accurate. There has been no such decision by the BCCI. We request media colleagues to kindly refer to official BCCI communications for any updates regarding the schedule. Further, it needs to be reiterated that bilateral matches are primarily allotted by following a standard policy," Saikia had said on October 12.