Sickening Delhi pollution just not cricket

As an Indian Test cricket venue, Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi has neither the epic scale of Eden Gardens in Calcutta nor the charm of Dharamsala, where Himalayan peaks tower over the ground. So few will mourn if Delhi is struck off the list for international tours after smog stopped play there this week and Sri Lankan players vomited on the pitch.

The scene was an indictment of India’s failure to deal with air pollution and threatens the city’s ability to host sports events. However, although the ground was shrouded in haze, many locals remain convinced that the episode was just Sri Lankan gamesmanship.

Play was halted three times on the second day for Sri Lankans to receive medical treatment, the first known incident of a Test being stopped because of air pollution.

As the smog worsened, several Sri Lankans put on face masks and eventually refused to play on, forcing India to declare. ‘‘We had players coming off the field and vomiting,’’ Nic Pothas, the Sri Lanka coach, said.

With politicians unwilling or unable to resolve the problem, Delhi’s ability to host international sports events is in doubt.

Football’s under-17 World Cup, hosted by India, was moved to October to avoid the worst of the winter pollution. Javier Ceppi, the tournament director, tweeted this week: ‘‘You can’t host sport events in Delhi from Diwali [which falls from mid-October to midNovember] until the end of February, at least.’’

He was backed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which urged the International Cricket Council to intervene if the Indian authorities would not. ‘‘This match should not have taken place,’’ KK Aggarwal, the IMA president said.

Winter smog, caused by burning agricultural waste, industrial fumes, dust and emissions from millions of cars, leaves a pall of smoke drifting across northern India. Doctors declared a public health emergency in Delhi last month, comparing pollution levels to smoking 50 cigarettes a day.

However, CK Khanna, acting president of India’s cricket board, said: ‘‘If 20,000 people in the stands did not have a problem and the Indian team did not face any issue, I wonder why the Sri Lankan team made a big fuss.’’