Captain of Sri Lanka Dinesh Chandimal, who scored a brilliant 164, didn’t wear a mask while batting but was seen wearing one as soon as he took the field. The only Sri Lankan player, who seemed to not have any problem with the pollution was wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.
Like in the first innings, Dickwella didn’t wear a mask in India’s second innings. Another point of note was that both onfield umpires — Nigel Llong (England), Joel Wilson (Trinidad and Tobago) not once wore a mask on any day of the 3rd Test.
The Indian team too decided against wearing pollution masks when it took the field on Day 3.Meanwhile, the BCCI on Monday said scheduling of matches in pollution-mired Delhi will be “considered” in future.
“Scheduling of matches in Delhi during this time of the year will be considered,” BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary told reporters at the end of the third day’s play here when questions were raised about Delhi’s viability as a venue given the rising pollution levels.
However, Chaudhary said Sri Lanka Cricket had not raised any such concerns when the itinerary was decided. “If Sri Lanka Cricket had concerns regarding scheduling, they didn’t express them to us,” he added.