IND vs SA: Fog forces abandonment of India vs South Africa 4th T20I in Lucknow

NEW DELHI: Fog had the final say in Lucknow as the fourth T20 International between India and South Africa was called off without a ball being bowled at the Ekana Stadium on Wednesday, following a long evening of uncertainty and repeated inspections by the umpires.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The contest was hit almost immediately by poor visibility, with a dense layer of smog and fog settling over the ground well before the scheduled toss.

The toss, initially delayed due to thick fog around the venue, was first put back to 6:50 pm as match officials monitored conditions closely.Despite hopes of an improvement, the visibility failed to get any better. At 7:30 pm, the umpires carried out their first major inspection of the evening, only to conclude that conditions were still unsafe for play.

South Africa players, who had earlier been warming up on the outfield, were asked to return to the dressing room as the wait continued.Another inspection followed at 8:00 pm, where the umpires were seen conducting a detailed visibility test. One official stood near the pitch while the other moved towards the boundary to assess whether they could see each other and track the ball clearly under the floodlights. With no improvement, the next inspection was scheduled for 8:30 pm.

By then, the pitch had been covered with a large cloth rug to protect it from the moisture-laden air.The pattern continued as conditions remained unchanged. Yet another inspection took place at 9:00 pm, with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla also present in the middle, holding discussions with the umpires. Still, no decision could be taken, forcing officials to announce one final inspection at 9:25 pm.Fans inside the stadium waited patiently, hoping for even a shortened contest, as the umpires once again assessed visibility from the batter’s crease and examined the effectiveness of the floodlights. However, with the fog showing no signs of lifting and player safety becoming a growing concern, the inevitable call was finally made to abandon the match.The abandonment means India continue to lead the five-match T20I series 2-1, while South Africa now have only one opportunity left to draw level. The fifth and final T20 International will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where both teams will hope for clearer skies and a decisive finish to the series.