Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are poised to face each other in their ICC World Cup encounter on Monday amidst concerns about the poor air quality in Delhi.
Bangladesh has already been eliminated from the race for the semifinals with six defeats in seven matches so far. In contrast, Sri Lanka has won two matches out of seven and still holds some mathematical chances.
Alongside Bangladesh, the current World Champions, England, have also been eliminated from the race for the semifinals. The hosts, India and South Africa, have qualified for the semis.
Bangladesh had to cancel their practice session on Friday due to the poor air quality in Delhi. The next morning, only 13 players were present at the morning practice session, with lower attendance in the afternoon session.
On Sunday, only eight players showed up for practice, while others remained in the hotel due to concerns about the poor air quality.
Bangladesh’s coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, spoke to the media on Monday and mentioned that the players who suffer from asthma did not participate in the last practice session ahead of the match.
Chandika stated that the conditions are not ideal for cricket, and he added that the players should be cautious about the potential long-term health problems that this condition may pose.
According to reports, the air quality may affect the match on the day of the game. However, the final decision will be made based on the guidelines of the ICC and the on-field umpires.
