On New Delhi’s Arun Jaitely Stadium on Thursday afternoon, the eyeballs were following Liton Das because of the bluish white mask he was wearing during Bangladesh’s first training session ahead of the series-opening first T20I on Sunday. A thick blanket of smog covered the length and breadth of the ground and pretty much entire Delhi on Thursday afternoon and it has been the case ever since the last Diwali Sunday. It was presumed that Liton’s mask was a precautionary measure to the severe air quality of the country capital. But the right-hander later confirmed that he had a minor respiratory illness and he would have worn the mask irrespective of the air quality.
Liton was the only Bangladesh cricketer spotted with a mask on Thursday. That, however, may not be the case in Bangladesh’s next two days’ practice sessions prior to the first T20I. Taken aback by the conditions, the Bangladesh team management is considering to arrange more masks for the rest of the team.
“Yes, we are thinking about getting more masks,” said a Bangladesh team source.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) around the Arun Jaitely Stadium at the time Bangladesh players were training was touching 400, which is the optimum range of the ‘very poor’ category (AQI 300-400). If the number had risen a tad more, it would have entered the ‘severe’ range, under which it is advisable not to indulge in any strenuous physical activity.
The discomfort among the Bangladesh cricketers was visible. The most affected was Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo, who complained of breathing problems, burning eyes, and dizziness. “Our coach did not feel well. He said his eyes were burning and he was finding it hard to even breathe because of the lack of clean air,” said a Bangladesh team member.
It was after seeing Domingo’s struggles that Bangladesh team management started to consider arranging more masks.
