Delhi Pollution: Gasping Sri Lankan Cricketer Vomits at Kotla, Players Wear Masks; Indians Undaunted
Delhi continued to reel because of a toxic air after the Capital woke up to another hazy morning on Tuesday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was close to the outer limit in the “very poor” category.
At Feroz Shah Kotla, where the India-Sri Lanka third cricket Test has been the focus of Delhi’s battle with toxic air quality, Sri Lanka pace bowler Suranga Lakmal doubled up and vomited soon after his team took the field for India’s second innings. The team physio ran in and escorted him off the field.
While the Sri Lankan players wore masks during the Kotla Test to protect them from the toxic smog, Indian players seemed to be quite at ease. (AFP)
Eight Sri Lanka players took the field wearing face masks with only wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella and the two new ball bowlers, Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage, not wearing them.
The Sri Lanka players also didn’t use the masks while batting, likely due to the limited amount of running involved. However, both skippers, India’s Virat Kohli and Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chadimal spent hours in the middle as they scored career-best 243 and 164, respectively.
VERY POOR AIR
The AQI had dropped to 379 at around 8 am on Tuesday morning, from Monday’s average of 390, on a scale of 0 – 500, according to official figures. Although the level of particulate matter had also dropped compared to the previous day, it was still on the higher side of “very poor” category — 301-400.
Sri Lankan players get together as they wait for third umpire decision for the wicket of India’s Ajinkya Rahane during the fourth day of their third Test match in New Delhi on Tuesday. (AP)
An AQI value above 400 on the scale of 500 is considered severe pollution. Such high levels were last seen on November 14 when the city had just come out of a weeklong haze. Monday’s average AQI had hovered around 390, almost touching the hazardous mark.
The Delhi government had been criticised by the National Green Tribunal over measures taken to tackle pollution, and for allowing the cricket Test to go ahead. Sri Lanka players had complained of unease with some vomitting in the dressing room during the second day.
Sri Lanka’s captain Dinesh Chandimal adjusts his anti-pollution mask during the fourth day of the third Test against India in New Delhi on Tuesday. (AP)