In an unprecedented incident, Sri Lanka enforced three interruptions during the second session of the Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla on account of perceived unhealthy conditions.
When play resumed after lunch on the second day of the match, five Sri Lankan players took the field wearing face masks, which, irinically, were procured from the Indian dressing room.
Soon, seamer Lahiru Gamage complained of breathlessness and skipper Dinesh Chandimal stepped in to speak to the umpires.
Play was suspended for 17 minutes as the umpires — Nigel Long and Joel Wilson — consulted with the match referee David Boon. India skipper Virat Kohli too joined the discussion before play resumed.
There were two more stoppages of four minutes and five minutes each. Sri Lanka, at one stage, was reduced to ten men when mediumpacer Suranga Lakmal too left the field.
Even as the spectators waited patiently, India declared the innings but not before the coaches Ravi Shastri and Nic Pothas walked to the middle to speak to the umpires.
Play was suspended for 17 minutes as the umpires — Nigel Long and Joel Wilson — consulted with the Match Referee David Boon.
Bad advertisement
The developments at the Kotla were bad advertisement for the Capital which has been battling air pollution for some time now. In November, the government had shut schools for a week and there had been reports of the air quality crossing the hazardous marks in Delhi.
Lack of wind and a cloud cover made things worse at the Kotla on Sunday.
Last year, two Ranji Trophy matches, between Bengal and Gujarat, and Hyderabad and Tripura, were called off when the teams complained of breathing trouble due to air pollution.
Incidentally, B. Arun, India’s bowling coach, was assisting Hyderabad in that match.
