The Board of Cricket Council of India (BCCI) has taken the decision to prohibit the use of fireworks during the remaining World Cup matches in Delhi and Mumbai due to the deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in these cities.
Mumbai is scheduled to host two league matches on November 2 (India vs Sri Lanka) and November 7 (Australia vs Afghanistan), along with the semi-final on November 15. Delhi will host its last league match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on November 6.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah emphasized the board's commitment to environmental concerns and confirmed that they had formally raised the issue with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Consequently, there will be no fireworks display in Mumbai to avoid adding to the pollution levels.
Shah stated, "The BCCI acknowledges the urgent concern surrounding air quality in both Mumbai and New Delhi. While we strive to host the ICC World Cup in a manner befitting the celebration of cricket, we remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of all our stakeholders."
Both cities, Delhi and Mumbai, are grappling with poor air quality. Delhi's AQI on Wednesday was recorded as "very poor" with a reading of 372, while Mumbai fell into the "poor" category with an AQI ranging from 150 to 200. The decision by BCCI aims to mitigate any potential exacerbation of the air quality situation during the cricket matches.
(With Agency Inputs)
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