New Delhi: Following the abandonment of the fourth T20 International between India and South Africa due to dense fog and poor visibility, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is the competent authority to oversee ticket refunds for spectators. The match, scheduled at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, was called off without a single ball being bowled, triggering frustration among fans who had turned up in large numbers.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Thursday that all ticketing-related matters fall under the jurisdiction of the host state association. “That is under the domain of the state cricket association, which is UPCA. This game’s hosting state is the UPCA, so they will be able to tell you about this, and they are the competent authority,” Saikia told IANS.

Refund policy and spectators’ expectations

Under the BCCI’s existing refund policy, spectators are eligible for reimbursement, after deduction of applicable processing fees, if a match is cancelled or abandoned before the start of play. Since the fourth T20I was abandoned without a single delivery being bowled, fans are expecting a full refund as per the norms.

Saikia reiterated that the BCCI only allocates hosting rights to state associations, while operational aspects such as ticket sales, refunds and ground arrangements are handled locally. “Everything in ticketing is done by the state association. The BCCI just gives them the hosting rights, and all these things are taken care of by the state association,” he said.

UPCA officials are expected to issue a formal clarification on the refund mechanism in the coming days.

Match abandoned after prolonged inspections

The match was officially abandoned at 9.30 pm after multiple inspections by on-field umpires K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan and Rohan Pandit, along with reserve umpire J.R. Madanagopal. Despite repeated assessments, visibility did not improve to acceptable playing standards due to thick fog enveloping the stadium.

The abandonment meant that India retained a 2–1 lead in the five-match T20I series, with the fifth and final match scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.

First December T20I in Lucknow ends in disappointment

The Lucknow fixture marked the first time the city hosted a T20I in December. Unfortunately, it also earned the unwanted distinction of being India’s first major international match to be abandoned due to excessive fog.

The severity of conditions was underlined by visuals of India’s seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya wearing a mask on the field, highlighting not just the fog but also the hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels recorded during the evening.

Debate over winter scheduling revived

The washout has reignited debate over the BCCI’s scheduling of international matches in North India during winter months, especially with the South Africa series seen as crucial preparation ahead of the Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled for February–March.

Responding to criticism, Saikia defended the board’s scheduling decisions, describing the Lucknow incident as an exceptional weather event. “Normally, we see this kind of weather in January. This time it is quite early,” he said, adding that weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable.

He cited recent matches in colder regions such as Dharamsala to argue that conditions alone cannot dictate scheduling. “You cannot predict fog and rain. Nowadays, cricket is a year-round annual event, and we have to conduct matches,” Saikia noted.

BCCI’s precautions for domestic cricket

Saikia pointed out that the BCCI has already taken steps to minimise weather disruptions in domestic cricket. “When we saw disturbances from fog in northern India in January, we restructured our domestic schedule. That is why there is a big gap between Ranji Trophy matches in North India,” he explained.

He added that Ranji Trophy fixtures in northern states have been bifurcated, with no matches scheduled in the first part of January from last year onwards, precisely to avoid fog-related disruptions.

Example of proactive rescheduling

Highlighting the board’s proactive approach, Saikia referred to the rescheduling of Test matches involving India. “When we anticipated smog in New Delhi after Diwali, we swapped venues. The first Test against South Africa was originally scheduled in Delhi, but it was moved when we got information about air quality issues,” he said.

However, he maintained that the Lucknow fog was not foreseeable. “We are still in the second or third week of December. This kind of fog is usually seen in January. This was an exceptional situation, and for this, we cannot have any kind of rescheduling,” Saikia concluded.

Conclusion

While the abandonment of the fourth T20I has disappointed fans and players alike, the focus has now shifted to refunds and lessons for future scheduling. With UPCA tasked with handling reimbursements and the series set to conclude in Ahmedabad, the incident serves as a reminder of the growing challenges posed by weather and pollution to international cricket in North India.