Excessive fog forced abandonment of India–South Africa T20I in Lucknow, triggering refund concerns and renewed debate on winter scheduling
New Delhi
The fourth T20 International between India and South Africa, held at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, was abandoned on Wednesday night due to excessive fog and extremely poor visibility, prompting disappointment among spectators and raising questions over ticket refunds. Addressing the issue, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is the competent authority responsible for overseeing the refund process for ticket holders.
The match could not commence despite multiple inspections by on-field umpires K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan and Rohan Pandit, along with reserve umpire J.R. Madanagopal. As visibility failed to improve, officials eventually called off the game at 9.30 pm, without a single ball being bowled. Under the BCCI’s refund policy, spectators are entitled to reimbursement, minus applicable fees, if a match is cancelled or abandoned before play begins.
Explaining the process, Saikia said that all ticketing operations fall under the jurisdiction of the hosting state association. That is under the domain of the state cricket association, which is UPCA. So, this game’s hosting state is the UPCA. They will be able to tell you about this, and they are the competent authority, he said, adding that the BCCI only grants hosting rights while logistical and ticketing matters are handled locally. The abandonment left India with a 2–1 lead in the five-match series, with the fifth and final T20I scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. However, the incident has reignited debate over the BCCI’s scheduling of international fixtures during North India’s winter months, when fog and poor air quality frequently disrupt sporting events. This was the first time a T20 International was staged in Lucknow in December, and the match has now earned the unwanted distinction of being India’s first major international fixture abandoned due to excessive fog.