The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned without a toss after dense fog enveloped the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, making play impossible due to poor visibility.

The abandonment has once again put the BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee under scrutiny, particularly over the decision to stage international matches in northern and eastern India during peak winter, when fog has repeatedly disrupted play in recent years. The choice to schedule a day-night fixture in Lucknow at this time of year has drawn criticism, given the predictable visibility issues.

A thick layer of fog and smog settled over the ground, triggering serious safety concerns, particularly for fielders attempting to track the ball in the air. As a result, the toss was repeatedly delayed while match officials kept a close watch on conditions.

The first inspection was scheduled for 6:50 pm, but with visibility showing no signs of improvement, further checks were carried out at 7:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:00 pm and again at 9:25 pm. During the 7:30 pm inspection, the umpires conducted an on-field visibility test, with one official positioned near the pitch asking his colleague at the boundary if they could clearly see each other and the ball. BCCI vice-president and UPCA president Rajiv Shukla also came out to assess the conditions during one of the inspections. The assessment confirmed that visibility remained unfit for play.

South Africa’s players, who had initially stepped out for a light warm-up on the outfield, were forced to return to the dressing room as the fog continued to linger. Despite the delays, players from both sides remained on the ground for extended periods, continuing their warm-up drills as officials monitored the situation. Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was also seen wearing a face mask as the dense fog hung over the stadium.

With visibility failing to improve despite multiple inspections, officials eventually decided to abandon the match without a ball being bowled. Commenting on the conditions on Star Sports, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn said, “From a bowling perspective, you’re dealing with completely different conditions. It’s really interesting. I’ve honestly never seen conditions like this before. You can see why the outfielders want to delay the toss to check if things improve.” Steyn added, “Last night, I walked across to the mall around 8 pm and it was really bad. You couldn’t see 20 metres ahead. I’m worried it might actually get worse.”

The fog in Lucknow has intensified over the past few days following a sharp drop in temperatures, a local source told India Today. The city has been experiencing biting cold, with thick fog blanketing streets at night and during the early morning hours, severely disrupting visibility.

The BCCI had avoided similar backlash earlier when the third T20I in Dharamsala went ahead despite foggy conditions in the mountains, but the Lucknow washout has reignited the debate over winter scheduling.

India continue to lead the five-match T20I series 2-1, with the final match set to be played in Ahmedabad on December 19.

– Ends