As the air quality index (AQI) rose above 400, an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo that the situation was being monitored. “The ICC and our hosts the BCCI take the well-being of all participants seriously and are monitoring the air quality in Delhi,” they said. “We are taking expert advice to assess the situation.”
ESPNcricinfo understands that come match day on Monday, the match officials will treat the air pollution just as they would the weather, in deciding whether conditions are fit for play or not.
The Indian government agency’s Air Quality Tracking Warning system said the AQI was likely to be in the severe category on Saturday and remain so until Tuesday, November 7. Bangladesh have a training session scheduled at 6pm on Saturday, after choosing not to train on Friday because of the air pollution in Delhi.
An air emergency was declared in Delhi on Thursday, as the air quality index (AQI) rose above 400 in several places in the city, forcing the government to close schools for two days and impose restrictions on construction and vehicle traffic.