The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled on Wednesday night as dense fog and hazardous air quality engulfed the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. This marks the first time a major international match in India has been called off due to fog.
The decision came after a prolonged wait for the near-capacity crowd, who remained in the stadium for hours hoping for play to begin despite visibility rapidly deteriorating throughout the evening.
Match officials, including umpires K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan and Rohan Pandit, conducted six inspections between 6:50 PM and 9:25 PM after initially delaying the toss scheduled for 6:30 PM. The umpires were seen walking to the boundary lines to test visibility, but conditions worsened as the temperature dropped.
By 7:30 PM, players had abandoned their warm-ups, and the square wore a deserted look. With visibility hovering between 50 to 200 meters and no improvement in sight, the match was officially called off at 9:30 PM, prompting frustration among sections of the crowd who threw objects onto the field before dispersing.
The hazardous conditions shadowed the severe pollution levels gripping North India, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lucknow hovering around 400; a level classified as hazardous. Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was spotted wearing a surgical mask during the pre-match routine, underscoring the health risks.
Private monitoring websites indicated AQI levels as high as 350 shortly before the cancellation. The poor air quality has been a recurring issue in the region recently, even reportedly delaying Lionel Messi’s arrival in New Delhi for the final leg of his India tour.
The washout has reignited debate regarding the BCCI's scheduling of international fixtures in North Indian cities during peak winter months. Critics pointed out that the board could have swapped venues with the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, which is scheduled for western and southern India in January.
The harsh winter conditions were already a talking point during the third T20I in Dharamsala, where spinner Varun Chakaravarthy admitted, "I have never played at a ground that is this chilly so I found it very challenging."
In terms of team news, reports emerged that Indian opener Shubman Gill suffered a toe injury during training on the eve of the match and would have missed the game had it gone ahead. His participation in the series finale remains doubtful.
Both teams will now travel to Ahmedabad for the decisive fifth T20I, with no reserve day allocated for the abandoned Lucknow fixture. The incident recalls similar disruptions in the past, such as the 2017 Test against Sri Lanka in Delhi, where players vomited on the field due to pollution.