Unfortunate events unfolded at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium Delhi once again, as Some members of the Sri Lankan cricket team once again wore pollution masks as India’s 2nd innings got underway on Day 4 of the third and final Test on Tuesday.
Again, Play had to be stopped on three occasions on Sunday during India’s 1st innings as the Sri Lankan team, wearing pollution masks, complained of breathing problems. And 5 overs into the 2nd innings, Sri Lankan players, Suranga Lakmal in particular, were once again seen in strife. Lakmal fielding at third man had to be attended to by the physio as play was briefly interrupted. He was taken off the field with Dasun Shanaka, wearing a mask, coming on as the substitute fielder.
Captain of Sri Lanka Dinesh Chandimal, who scored a brilliant 164, didn’t wear a mask while batting but was seen wearing one as soon as he took the field. The only Sri Lankan player, who seemed to not have any problem with the pollution was wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.
Like in the first innings, Dickwella didn’t wear a mask in India’s second innings. Another point of note was that both onfield umpires not once wore a mask on any day of the 3rd Test.
On Sunday as well, during the second day of the test, Play was halted for 17 minutes after lunch as the visiting players, led by skipper Dinesh Chandimal, wanted to leave the field of play complaining of severe pollution. The Lankans were seen wearing anti-pollution masks during the post-lunch session. The play was halted between 12:32 pm to 12:49 pm after which the umpires and match referee David Boon convinced them to continue. However, there was another stoppage of play in the 127th over when Lakmal walked off the field after bowling the fifth ball.
The umpires once again got together, chatting with Chandimal and Angelo Mathews. Sri Lanka manager Asanka Gurusinha and India coach Ravi Shastri also joined in.
