The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi:
Following the abandonment of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow due to dense fog, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday said the board will review the scheduling of matches in North India between December 15 and January 15.
Speaking to, Shukla said the persistent fog during this period has become a serious concern, affecting both international and domestic cricket. “The match had to be cancelled due to fog, and people were upset about it. We will review scheduling of matches from December 15 to January 15 in North India to decide whether fixtures should be shifted to South India or West India. Domestic matches are also being impacted, so this is a serious issue,” he said.
The fourth T20I of the five-match series was called off without a ball being bowled at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow due to poor visibility caused by fog. India currently lead the series 2–1, with the final match scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad on Friday.
During the interaction, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor joined the discussion and light-heartedly invited the BCCI to host matches in Kerala, saying “Aaiye Kerala (come to Kerala),” prompting a brief humorous exchange.
The December 15 to January 15 window also coincides with key domestic and international fixtures. The Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier 50-over domestic tournament, will be held from December 24 to January 18, with Jaipur among the host venues. Additionally, the ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin on January 11, with matches in Vadodara, Rajkot and Indore, featuring senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Earlier, ahead of the fourth T20I, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against South Africa due to illness. The BCCI Men’s Selection Committee named Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement.
The fog-related disruption has reignited discussions within the cricketing fraternity about the feasibility of hosting matches in North India during peak winter months.
