Foggy obstacle in Lucknow.. India-South Africa fourth T20 is cancelled

Cricket fans were left disappointed as the fourth T20 International between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to dense fog. Even the toss could not take place, as playing conditions remained unsafe.

Umpires conducted multiple inspections of the field during the evening but eventually decided to call off the match. Heavy fog combined with severe air pollution significantly reduced visibility at the Ekana Stadium, making it impossible to proceed with the game while ensuring player safety.

On Wednesday, air quality levels in Lucknow touched hazardous levels. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a face mask, underlining the seriousness of the situation. Both teams will now travel to Ahmedabad for the fifth and final T20I.

India currently lead the series 2-1 and cannot lose the series. A win in the final match will help India clinch the series, while the cancellation has made the last game decisive.

The abandonment of the fourth T20I has once again raised questions over BCCI’s scheduling of international matches in North India during winter. Cities such as Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Dharamshala often experience extreme cold and high pollution levels during November and December.

Although officials cited fog as the official reason, many believe pollution-induced smog was the real cause behind the cancellation. While the BCCI follows a venue rotation policy, experts suggest reconsidering venue allocations possibly swapping venues of the ongoing South Africa series with the upcoming New Zealand series starting on January 11.

Earlier, the third T20I in Dharamshala was played in temperatures below 10°C. After that match, spinner Varun Chakravarthy remarked that he had never played in such cold conditions before and found it extremely challenging.