The crippling smog cover over Delhi has disrupted sports players as well with the first day play of two Ranji Trophy matches here and Karnail being called-off due to visibility trouble and breathing problems among the players. Not just that, the Delhi Dynamos players had to be given masks as a precautionary measure while entering the training ground on Saturday.
The post-Diwali smog has been the talking point in the Capital but its impact was eventually witnessed on sports when the opening day of Ranji Group A league encounter between Bengal and Gujarat at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium was cancelled as also the Group C match at Karnail Singh Stadium between Tripura and Hyderabad. Players complained of irritation in the eyes and breathing problems.
At Kotla, both Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary and Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel went out for the toss but match referee P Ranganathan in consultation with ground umpires Virender Sharma and Krishnamachari Bharathan decided to call off the Day 1 proceedings.
Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule said, “The players were complaining that they were having a burning sensation in their eyes. It’s pretty bad out there.”
Tiwary said the players felt that they could not play even before the start of the game. “This is the first time something like this happened in my career. You can’t blame anyone. There is so much burning sensation in the eyes. After the toss, umpires asked me and Parthiv and we both decided to abandon play. During the warm-up too, we felt that it’s not happening. We have to take care of our health. This is something unheard of,” said Tiwary.
Ranganathan added, “We have informed BCCI about the situation. It’s difficult to shift matches.”
It wasn’t just the cricketers but footballers too who felt the effect of the smog even though they did not have any match to play here on Saturday.
Indian Super league outfit Delhi Dynamos’ players were asked to wear masks while going into the DU training ground on Saturday. “They gave the masks but I didn’t use it. I didn’t think I needed it as I am a strong guy,” said Dynamos’ Ghanian forward Richard Gadze.
Delhi’s versatile attacker Marcelo leite Pereira said though it wasn’t an issue for him, the smog cover was bad. “No I am not having any problem on this. For me it’s okay. No problem,” said the Brazilian who scored in Delhi’s 2-0 win over Kerala Blasters on Friday night.
Delhi’s next match is on November 9, against defending champions Chennaiyin FC. By then the players are hoping that the smog cover will dissipate.