In the Men’s Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka held in Delhi, concerns were raised due to the city’s very unhealthy air quality index (AQI), which reached 411. The World Health Organization advises against outdoor activities when the AQI exceeds 300, as it is considered “hazardous.”

Despite this, the match proceeded as independent checks deemed it safe, and various safety measures were implemented. These included the use of water sprinklers around the premises and the installation of air purifiers in the dressing rooms and areas for match officials.

The poor air quality also led to the closure of many schools in Delhi for the week. Both teams canceled their training sessions before the match, and Bangladesh excluded asthmatic players from training. New Delhi’s air quality issues were further highlighted as it ranked as the world’s most polluted city according to real-time data from IQAir. Despite the challenges, the match continued with the hope of mitigating health risks and ensuring the safety of players and officials.

Organizers said: “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) engaged the services of renowned pulmonologist Dr Randeep Guleria to assess the situation in Delhi ahead of Monday’s game and provide independent expert advice.

Delhi’s air quality reached alarming levels, with readings approaching the worst possible level of 500 last week. To put it in perspective, London’s air quality index (AQI) on Monday was a mere 21, highlighting the stark contrast in air quality between the two cities.

Monday’s match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was the last of five World Cup matches to be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The ongoing air quality concerns in Delhi have drawn parallels to a 2017 incident during a Test match between India and Sri Lanka when players had to wear masks due to poor air quality, and two players even vomited on the field.