India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Likely To Be Moved Out Of New Delhi For High Pollution Levels: Report

Ahead of the upcoming Sri Lanka tour of India, there is a major venue overhaul with the first ODI all set to be moved out of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has requested the BCCI to shift the December 13 game out of Delhi.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, citing officials, the DDCA is believed to have written to the BCCI, citing its inability to host the match on the scheduled date. The association is believed to have cited multiple reasons for the request, including the pollution levels in Delhi at this time of the year. The stadium, of course, is also undergoing renovation.

The report further suggested that the DDCA is particularly concerned about the high pollution levels in Delhi during this time of the year. The association reportedly believes that relocating the match would be a safer option, considering the city's history of poor air quality during the winter months.

DDCA Concerned About Delhi's Pollution Levels

Delhi has frequently recorded alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) levels during winter. Last December, the capital's average AQI stood at 351, with similarly poor levels recorded on Monday, November 2, according to the report.

A source familiar with the development told Cricbuzz that pollution, rather than the renovation work at the stadium, was the primary reason behind the DDCA's request.
"More than the renovation work, we want the match to be moved because of AQI in Delhi," the source said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

The association is reportedly keen to avoid a repeat of the uncomfortable scenes witnessed during India's Test match against Sri Lanka in December 2017. Several Sri Lankan players were seen struggling with the pollution, with some even throwing up on the field. DDCA officials are understood to be keen to prevent a similar situation and have reportedly requested that the match be allotted another venue next year.

BCCI May Have to Revise India-Sri Lanka ODI Schedule

The Delhi fixture was originally scheduled to be the opening match of the three-game ODI series. The remaining two matches are slated to take place in Bengaluru on December 16 and Ahmedabad on December 19.

If the BCCI accepts the DDCA's request, the board will have to make changes to the series schedule and finalise an alternative venue for the opening ODI.

The possibility of the match being moved had previously been dismissed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia. On October 12, Saikia denied reports suggesting that the Delhi fixture would be shifted to Ahmedabad, insisting that no such decision had been taken.

"Reports suggesting that the India-Sri Lanka ODI match scheduled in Delhi may be shifted to Ahmedabad are not accurate. There has been no such decision by the BCCI. We request media colleagues to kindly refer to official BCCI communications for any updates regarding the schedule. Further, it needs to be reiterated that bilateral matches are primarily allotted by following a standard policy," Saikia had said.

However, with the DDCA now reportedly approaching the BCCI itself to seek a venue change, the board could be forced to reconsider its plans.