The fourth T20 International between India and South Africa in Lucknow met a frustrating end on Wednesday, as the match was officially called off without a single delivery being bowled. The culprit was not rain, but an unusually thick blanket of fog, a rare occurrence in international cricket that left fans furious and reignited debates on scheduling and air quality.
Frustration at Ekana Stadium as Fog Wins
The scene at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium was one of disappointment and growing anger. After six separate inspections by the umpires, the match was finally abandoned at 9:25 pm. Spectators, who had waited for hours, demanded refunds from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The severity of the conditions was starkly highlighted when images of Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya wearing a mask during warm-ups in the dense smog went viral on social media.
While delays and cancellations due to rain or wet outfields are common, a complete abandonment triggered by fog is an extreme rarity in the sport. This event in Lucknow forced cricket authorities and fans to confront an environmental challenge that is seldom a factor in match logistics.
A Historic Precedent: The 1998 Faisalabad Test
Interestingly, the Lucknow T20I is not the first international cricket match to fall victim to persistent fog. History provides a remarkable parallel from December 1998. The third Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad suffered an identical fate.
Scheduled from December 17 to 21, that match saw no play across all five days. Thick fog engulfed the city, reducing visibility to a point where batting, bowling, and fielding were deemed impossible. The umpires, Saleem Badar of Pakistan and Doug Cowie of New Zealand, conducted daily inspections. In an interview, Cowie later explained that the final decision to abandon rested with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket.
In a desperate move, organizers even brought a super sopper from Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to Faisalabad to dry the field quickly if the fog lifted. However, the conditions never improved. The match was abandoned without a ball bowled, and Zimbabwe went on to win the three-match series 1-0, marking their first-ever series victory.
Rarity and Reactions: Fog's Unusual Role in Cricket
Both the Faisalabad Test of 1998 and the Lucknow T20I of 2022 stand as stark reminders of how infrequently fog causes total match abandonments. While mist or low visibility can lead to delays or shortened games, complete cancellations remain anomalies in cricket's long history.
The event in Lucknow has sparked widespread discussion among fans and pundits. Key points of debate include the scheduling of winter matches in North India, where fog and poor air quality are known issues, and the protocols for such environmental disruptions. The viral image of Hardik Pandya also brought the conversation around player health and safety in polluted conditions back to the forefront.
For now, the abandoned match joins a very exclusive and unfortunate list in cricket lore, serving as a reminder that nature, in its various forms, remains the ultimate umpire.
