The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has formally requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to relocate the upcoming ODI between India and Sri Lanka, currently scheduled for December 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The association indicated that it is unable to host the fixture on the planned date, citing significant concerns regarding the capital’s deteriorating air quality and extensive renovation work underway at the venue. The stadium, of course, is also undergoing renovation.
Air quality levels remain a primary concern for the organizers. As a source familiar with the matter noted, the primary driver for the relocation request is the city’s air quality index (AQI) rather than the ongoing construction. The capital has frequently grappled with poor air quality during this period, recording an average AQI of 351 last December, with similar high-pollution levels observed as recently as November 2. The association is reportedly keen to avoid a repeat of the 2017 incident during an India-Sri Lanka Test, where several visiting players struggled with the conditions and were visibly distressed on the field. Given its past experience, the DDCA wants to be safe rather than sorry. DDCA sources say they do not want a repeat of that fracas.
This match is currently slated as the opening fixture of a three-game ODI series, with subsequent matches scheduled for December 16 in Bengaluru and December 19 in Ahmedabad. If the request is accepted, the BCCI will be required to adjust the series itinerary, potentially rescheduling the Delhi fixture for a later date next year.
The situation follows a previous denial regarding venue shifts from the governing body. On October 12, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that reports suggesting a move to Ahmedabad were inaccurate, emphasizing that the board had not made any such decision and that matches are allotted according to standard policy. However, with the local association now explicitly seeking to move the match, the BCCI faces a shift in circumstances that may necessitate a change in plans. We request media colleagues to kindly refer to official BCCI communications for any updates regarding the schedule. According to further, it needs to be reiterated that bilateral matches are primarily allotted by following a standard policy,” Saikia had, On October 12.
