As Bangladesh is gearing up to kick start their India tour with the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on November 3, Head coach Russell Domingo admitted that Delhi’s air quality isn’t ideal, but tourists have to get on with it, saying "no one is dying" as pollution is an issue in other countries as well.
As Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) has reached 'severe+' level on Friday (November 1), the visiting players Al Amin, Abu Hider Rony and team's spin consultant Daniel Vettori along with Domingo were seen wearing masks during their fielding session in the morning.
Domingo told reporters after the practice session, “The weather has been magnificent. It is not too hot. There's no breeze. It is not perfect with all the smog around. But it's the same for both teams, it is not perfect, it is not ideal. But there's nothing to complain about, we need to get on with it and make the best do's we can. It is not ideal, it is not something you would want.”
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The South African continued, “But there is nothing we can do about it. We have to make sure we prepare and deal with it. We have had little scratchy eyes and sore throat, but no one has been sick yet. No one is dying. We have to play three hours of the game, and we are having three hours practice session and probably this is the maximum amount of time you would want to spend in such a situation. We don't want to be in such weather outside in the field for six or seven hours.”
Meanwhile, Domingo insisted that pollution isn't a massive shock to the tourists as there is a bit of pollution in Bangladesh as well, and Sri Lankans also struggled with the dipping air quality levels in 2017 during a Test match in Delhi but they played.
He added, “We know SL struggled with it the last time. There's a bit of pollution in Bangladesh as well so it is not a massive shock to the system. Players have dealt with it really well. We have to go about our business. I am not a medical doctor; I am just a coach. It is not as ideal as your eyes and throat get sore.”
Domingo signed off by saying, “It is what it is, you need to get on with it. It is difficult to move a game just two/three days prior to the match. We are not complaining, we do not know what it will be like when the lights are on. We have checked the forecasts for the coming days and it seems to be getting progressively better. So that is a plus. It hasn't been great, but we are fine.”
(With ANI Inputs)
