Delhi air quality is scary: R Ashwin says it is indeed 'emergency' ahead of Bangladesh T20I

Even as the pollution levels in Delhi remained severe on Saturday, India and Bangladesh players are expected to train outdoors on the eve of the 1st T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

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Delhi air quality is scary: R Ashwin says it is indeed 'emergency' ahead of Bangladesh T20I
India and Bangladesh will play the 1st T20I of a 3-match series in Delhi on Sunday (PTI Photo)

In Short

  • R Ashwin took to Twitter to express concern about Delhi air quality
  • India and Bangladesh to play 1st T20I in Delhi on Sunday
  • SDMC making arrangements to combat air pollution at the venue

India's premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed concerns about the air quality in Delhi, saying the condition in the city "is scary".

R Ashwin's comments come on the eve of India's T20I match against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. On Friday, Delhi recorded its worst-ever air quality of the season and the pollution levels remained severe on Saturday morning.

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According to official data, the overall AQI in Delhi was 427 at 6.30 am. Pollution levels in the satellite towns of Ghaziabad (496), Greater Noida (496), and Noida (499) were much worse.

"The quality of air in Delhi is really scary, the oxygen we breathe is the basic requisite for mankind on this planet. This indeed is emergency," Ashwin wrote on Twitter.

Ashwin is not part of India's T20I squad for the 3-match series, starting November 3 against Bangladesh. However, the India all-rounder was part of Deodhar Trophy action in Ranchi on Friday.

Even as Supreme Court-mandated panel, Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) declared a public health emergency in Delhi-NCR, India and Bangladesh are gearing up to play the 1st T20I at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Sunday.

Meanwhile, The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has started watering, dust cleaning and other arrangements for Sunday's match. It was reported that the SDMC had inspected the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium earlier to make arrangements to combat the dust and air pollution at the venue.

Rohit Sharma reportedly gave thumbs up for the 1st T20I to go as planned after BCCI president Sourav Ganguly called and inquired about the situation in Delhi.

"The BCCI President checked with Rohit. The team is comfortable and the players are not facing any problem after a full-on training session on Friday. In fact, there is an optional training even on the eve of the match on Saturday. The skipper has given thumbs up to the BCCI chief," news agency IANS quoted a BCCI source as saying.

Bangladesh trained outdoors but were spotted wearing pollution masks during their training session for the 2nd successive day on Saturday.

On the other hand, India players trained without masks on Friday evening. Batting coach Vikram Rathour brushed aside concerns surrounding the air pollution in Delhi, saying both the teams are preparing to play the match in the city.

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