Rohit Sharma, captain of the Indian cricket team, has raised concerns about air pollution in India on the eve of the team's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 fixture against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Notably, the city located on the eastern coastline of India has witnessed rapid decrease in the air quality. Rohit himself posted an Instgram story of the smoggy skyline of the city which happens to be his home.
"In an ideal world, you do not want a situation like this but I am pretty sure that the concerned people are taking the necessary steps to avoid this kind of situation," Rohit said at the pre-match press conference.
"It is not ideal and everyone knows that. Looking at our future generations, your kids, my kid. Obviously it is important that they get to live without any fear. Every time I get to speak outside of cricket, or not discussing cricket, I always talk about this. We have to look after our future generations," he highligted.
BCCI Bans Firrworks For Remaining World Cup Matches In Delhi, Mumbai
The situation in Delhi, another venue where a World Cup fixture is yet to be played, isn't very encouraging either. Keeping in mind the health concerns, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has banned fireworks for the remaining matches in Delhi and Mumbai in this tournament.
"BCCI is sensitive to environmental concerns. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won't be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level. The board is committed to combating environmental issues and will always place the interest of our fans and stakeholders at the forefront," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said as per an official statement.
"The BCCI acknowledges the urgent concern surrounding air quality in both Mumbai and New Delhi. While we strive to host the ICC World Cup in a manner befitting the celebration of cricket, we remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritising the health and safety of all our stakeholders," he added.