New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) The ICC might incorporate airpollution in its 'Playing Conditions' clause, having taken aserious note of the plight of Sri Lankan cricketers during therecently-concluded Test match against India in the nationalcapital.
The Sri Lankan players were seen fielding while wearinganti-pollution masks during India's batting with most of theirplayers complaining of breathlessness. Their pace bowlersSuranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage also threw up due touneasiness.
The ICC has now decided to refer the matter to itsmedical committee, which has been provided the relevantreports as well as data of the prevailing air quality inDelhi.
"The ICC has noted the conditions in which Delhi Test wasplayed and has already requested that the issue is consideredby the medical committee for guidance should the situationarise in future. The matter is likely to be discussed inFebruary's ICC Meetings," an ICC spokesperson told PTI today.
As a result, there could be a slight alteration in theclauses of the Playing Conditions, where the health hazard ofplayers related to severe air pollution can be incorporated.
"In ICC's 'Playing Conditions', there is a separate sub-clause for weather. Since this is a first instance in thegame's 140-year history that a Test match has been halted for26 minutes due to air-pollution. The situation as we all knowis very unique in nature," a BCCI official said on conditionsof anonymity.
Since the Playing Conditions never had any specificmention of air-pollution, it is expected that permissible AQI(Air Quality Index) limit to play competitive cricket will beinserted.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA)'s president Dr KKAggarwal in a letter to BCCI has also urged the cricket'sgoverning body to include a clause on atmospheric pollution.
Dr Aggarwal on his part also provided data as to how itwas a serious health issue for players that the match was notstopped.
"The safe levels of atmospheric particulate matter,according to World Health Organisation air-quality guidelines,are 20g/cu mm (annual mean) for PM10 and 10g/cu mm (annualmean) for PM2.5," he said. PTI KHS PMPM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.