Bangladesh's Liton: Wore mask in Delhi practice for 'personal reasons'

Bangladesh opener Liton Das, who was seen practicing at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi wearing a face-mask, clarified that he did so for personal reasons and not because of the extreme level of pollution in the city. A huge hue and cry are being made about the !st T20 scheduled to take place in Delhi on November 3 amid worrying pollution levels, with environmentalists requesting the BCCI to shift the venue. However, BCCI has given a go-ahead for the game to take place as per its plan. 

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Liton Das clarifies on wearing face-mask

The Bangladesh opener said that he wore a face-mask for training because of personal health reasons and not because of the pollution in the city. Liton Das said that the team had been training for over two days and were well prepared to face India. Addressing the concern of spotting the white ball in a smog-filled environment, Liton Das said that the game was going to be played during the night time and hence it wouldn't matter that much. Responding to a question on how Bangladesh feels facing a Virat Kohli-less India, Liton Das said that even Bangladesh were missing out on their star players and that it gave an opportunity for youngsters on both sides to make their name. Liton Das also reacted to Shakib al Hasan's ban and said that though the team will miss the number one all-rounder, Bangladesh has a history of doing well even without Shakib in the playing eleven and cited the Asia Cup example where Shakib was ruled out with an injury. 

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BCCI won't shift the venue

Notwithstanding taking a "serious note" of the deteriorating air pollution index of Delhi post-Diwali, the BCCI has ruled out any possibility of shifting out the venue of India's first T20 match against Bangladesh at the "eleventh hour." The match will be held as scheduled at Arun Jaitley Stadium (Feroz Shah Kotla) on November 3 (Sunday) as the Board was contemplating taking all measures with various agencies to put down the pollution level.

"Yes, its a matter of serious concern. The pollution level is very high. But we have taken permission from Delhi Pollution Control Committee and they gave us Sunday as a clear day so we have decided to fix the venue after their consultation. We just have to see how the present level can be brought down. We are in talks with local bodies. But the shifting of the venue was never on. There was no time for it and logistics won't have permitted such a shift. Pollution level is lower than the previous years' post-Diwali but yes, its still very high," BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal told Republic TV in a telephonic conversation.

When asked whether the dates could be changed, the BCCI official said that at this stage it was not advisable keeping all factors in mind. "The fact that the match is only 20 overs each is a matter of relief. We have seen ODI happening in extremely polluted conditions in Delhi in the past, Ranji Trophy matches happening with players wearing a mask. I don't think such a situation will arise on Nov 3 which is also a Sunday," he noted.

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