India captain Rohit Sharma has raised concerns about the poor air quality in Mumbai, which is a matter of worry for cricketers playing in the ongoing World Cup 2023. In a recent Instagram story, Sharma shared an aerial view of Mumbai from his flight, showing a thick smog covering the city. “Mumbai, yeh kya ho gaya (Mumbai, what’s happened)?” he captioned the photo with a mask-wearing emoji.
Sharma is not the first cricketer to be taken aback by the poor air quality of Mumbai in this World Cup. England captain Joe Root also complained about it during England’s matches. “I’ve not played in anything like that before,” Root had said. “It just felt like you couldn’t get your breath. It was like you were eating the air. It was unique.”
The air quality in Mumbai has been a matter of concern over the last couple of weeks. As per CPCB, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai stands at 161 on Tuesday morning, which falls in the ‘moderate’ category. However, the AQI has breached the ‘severe’ category on a few occasions in recent weeks.
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According to an Indian Express report, the AQI breached the severe category in Mumbai’s Vile Parle barely a couple of weeks ago, while Andheri, one of the busiest parts of the city, recorded an AQI of 347 on October 17. The poor air quality in Mumbai is a matter of worry for cricketers, as it can have a negative impact on their health and performance.
Exposure to air pollution can lead to a variety of respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia. It can also reduce lung function and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has guidelines in place to protect players from air pollution.
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However, these guidelines are not mandatory, and it is up to the individual boards to decide whether or not to implement them. The Indian cricket board has not yet announced any measures to protect players from air pollution during the World Cup. However, it is hoped that the board will take note of Sharma’s concerns and take steps to ensure that players are not exposed to hazardous conditions.
