The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned without a ball bowled on Wednesday due to thick fog and hazardous visibility conditions, leaving fans and officials frustrated. The match, part of the five-game series, was called off after repeated inspections as dense smog enveloped the Ekana Cricket Stadium, making play unsafe and impractical.
In the aftermath, the BCCI clarified that it is not directly responsible for issuing ticket refunds; that duty lies with the local organising body, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). Under the board’s policy, spectators are eligible for reimbursement if a match is abandoned before a ball is bowled, but many supporters expressed that refunds could not make up for the missed experience.
The abandonment also reignited criticism over the scheduling of international matches in northern India during winter, when air quality and fog frequently disrupt play. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla acknowledged the issue, suggesting a review of match scheduling between mid-December and mid-January to avoid similar incidents in future.
Fans voiced their disappointment loudly outside the stadium, with some emotionally recounting their sacrifices to attend the game, while others questioned why a night fixture was scheduled in a region prone to poor visibility at this time of year. The Times of India The series will now conclude with the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad, giving both teams one last opportunity to settle the score.
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