Cricket News
ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh game likely to be scrapped?
The ODI World Cup 2023 has been entertaining fans not only in India but also across the World. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to face each other in their 8th game of the tournament on Monday in New Delhi. The 38th game of the ODI World Cup 2023 though is under severe doubt and could likely be scrapped.
With winter setting in New Delhi, the weather conditions are worsening. Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have expressed reservations ahead of the massive game on Monday. With the game just 48 hours away both the Indian Cricket Board and the Apex Cricket Body are having a closer look at the proceedings.
The game on Monday in New Delhi doesn’t have much on the line for either team as far as the ODI World Cup 2023 is concerned. Kusal Mendis and Shakib AL Hasan will want to win the game to keep their qualification hopes alive for the 2025 Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan.
New Delhi weather to scrap the World Cup Game?
India’s national capital has welcomed winter with the nighttime temperatures hitting the teens. With the drop in weather, there is also a drop in the Air Quality across New Delhi. This has prompted both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to express their reservations about playing the ODI World Cup 2023 game.
The Air Quality Index near the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium was recorded at 450 PM. The Bangladeshi cricket team decided to cancel the training session as they found it difficult to practice.
Khaled Mahmud who is the Bangladeshi team director told the media “We had planned a training session but seeing the conditions we decided to cancel it. We still have another couple of days. The players were struggling, they were coughing a lot. There is always a risk that someone may fall sick.
The Bangladesh team director further said “If the conditions improve well and good, otherwise we may still have to turn up. We have to accept the conditions and move ahead. Our priority is to see that everyone stays fit”
This is not the first time the New Delhi weather has played spoilsport during an international game. The 2017 India versus Sri Lanka test match saw the visiting players suffer in adverse conditions. The players were seen wearing masks while fielding and there were several stoppages in play during the drawn game.