The International Cricket Council (ICC) functions as the global governing body for the sport of cricket. It was originally established in 1909 under the name of the Imperial Cricket Conference, with representatives from Australia, England, and South Africa taking part in its foundation. In 1965, it underwent a name change, becoming the International Cricket Conference, and eventually adopted its current title in 1987. The ICC is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken measures to evaluate the pollution situation in the national capital, Delhi. Expressing deep concern for the well-being of all participants in the forthcoming match, the ICC confirmed that it was closely monitoring Delhi’s air quality. They also stated that they were seeking expert guidance to assess the situation. This decision was prompted by the toxic air that led to the Sri Lankan cricket team canceling their training session on Saturday, causing disruptions in their preparations for the upcoming World Cup match against Bangladesh, scheduled for Monday in the highly polluted city. The Bangladesh cricket team had previously canceled their training session on Friday due to the persisting air pollution in the national capital.
On Sunday, a toxic haze persisted over Delhi for the sixth consecutive day, with the air quality index deteriorating from 415 on Saturday evening to 460 on Sunday morning. It is noteworthy that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had already imposed a ban on the use of fireworks in post-match celebrations in New Delhi and Mumbai. Notably, during an India vs. Sri Lanka match in Delhi six years ago, several players experienced health issues due to the polluted air. Mumbai was also grappling with poor air quality, evident from a visible layer of haze observed on Marine Drive on Sunday morning.
In a recent development, England cricketer Joe Root expressed his discomfort by describing the conditions in Mumbai as akin to “eating the air.” India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has also expressed concerns regarding the worsening air quality. Rohit Sharma conveyed his apprehensions about the potential impact of the air quality, especially on children, saying, “It is far from ideal, and this is common knowledge. Ensuring that they can live without fear is of utmost importance. Every time I have the opportunity to address matters outside of cricket, or when cricket is not the subject, I consistently emphasize this point. It is our responsibility to safeguard the well-being of our future generations.”
