Reported By:
| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Dec 03, 2017, 01:38 PM IST
Delhi pollution has been a cause of concern for the residents of Delhi in recent months. On Sunday, it came to affect the play on the second day of the third and final Test between Sri Lanka and India at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium too.
Coming back from lunch, several Sri Lankan cricketers including captain Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal and Lakash Sadakanan were seen spotting wearing face masks on the field. The sight of seeing cricketers with the masks bothered the commentators Sanjay Manjrekar and Russel Arnold who both agreed it will get difficult to play with masks on. They further said that seamers will particularly face difficulty while bowling.
Play was also interrupted twice during the day as Umpires checked whether air quality was too poor for the play to continue.
Twitter went beserk as soon as Sri Lankan players walked out in the middle wearing masks. While many people expressed concern over the level of pollution, many termed it a 'dirty trick' by the Sri Lankan cricketers to avoid another loss. India cruised to a huge score thanks to another double century by the Indian captain Virat Kohli. The hosts declared at 536 for 7.
#IndvSL play stopped due to pollution. Virat Kohli right now pic.twitter.com/vVPCaLj3tV — SAGAR (@sagarcasm) December 3, 2017
Dear Suranga Lakmal,
Stick To Cricket. You Aren't Here For Acting. If Thousands Of Indians Sitting In The Crowd Have No Problem With Air Quality, Then It Must Be Good. Even If It's Bad, Wear A Mask. Stop This Dirty Trick To Avoid Shameless Loss.#INDvSL #INDvsSL #ViratKohli— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 3, 2017
If I heard and understood right, another commentator on Star says, 'Sri Lanka are hiding their faces behind the mask not because the air is bad but their performance is.' #INDvSL — Mihir Vasavda (@mihirsv) December 3, 2017
Sri Lanka's mask is more efficient than their bowlers at least it is taking wickets for them #ViratKohli #INDvsSL — Bhushan Bankar (@BhushanBankar1) December 3, 2017
16000 ppl including kids don't need mask whereas only few of SL players require them. Not grt sign for a team. #INDvSL — Arijit Chakraborty (@yoursarijit) December 3, 2017
However, many tweets expressed concern over the poor air quality and the menace of pollution.
Players wearing pollution masks while fielding and bowling. What a bad advertisement for cricket and India — The Masakadzas (@Nesenag) December 3, 2017
Sri Lankan players wearing masks sends out unedifying message about Delhi's pollution. State and central govts simply have to address this — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 3, 2017
The severity of air pollution and dense smog cover in the capital had led to the cancellation of the two Ranji Trophy encounters last year.
