The BCCI has come under heavy criticism after the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned due to excessive fog. Now, the board is planning to review its winter scheduling policy for North Indian venues to avoid similar situations in the future.

Match abandoned due to thick fog in Lucknow

The fourth T20I of the five-match series between India and South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on December 17, 2025, had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled due to dense fog. Visibility was so poor that play could not start at all, leaving fans disappointed and raising serious questions about scheduling international matches in North India during peak winter months.

India were leading the series 2-1 heading into the match, and the abandonment meant the series would be decided in the final T20I in Ahmedabad on December 19. The cancellation sparked widespread backlash, with fans and experts questioning why the BCCI continues to schedule matches in North Indian cities during December and early January when fog is a known issue.

BCCI to review December-January scheduling

BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla acknowledged the problem and said the board will meet to review the scheduling of matches taking place between December 15 and January 15 in North India. He told ANI: “The match had to be cancelled due to fog. The people were upset about it. We will need to review the scheduling of matches between 15 December to 15 January in north India to determine whether we need to shift them to south India or west India. Domestic matches are also being affected due to fog. It is a serious issue.”

This is a significant admission from the BCCI, as fog has been a recurring problem in North Indian venues like Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Kanpur during winter for many years. Domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy have repeatedly been hit by delays and abandonments due to fog, yet the BCCI has continued scheduling matches in these regions during the same period.

Vijay Hazare Trophy and ODI series at risk

The window from December 15 to January 15 will see the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a 50-over domestic tournament, taking place from December 24 to January 18. Jaipur is one of the venues for the tournament, and it too has a history of fog-related disruptions during this time of year. If the BCCI goes ahead with the review and decides to shift fixtures, the Vijay Hazare Trophy schedule could be impacted.

Additionally, the ODI series between India and New Zealand, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to return to action, is scheduled from January 11 onwards. Matches are planned in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore, all of which are in Western India and less prone to fog. However, if the BCCI extends its review to other domestic matches in North India, there could be broader changes to the winter cricket calendar.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s lighthearted suggestion

During Rajeev Shukla’s interaction with the media, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was present, made a lighthearted suggestion that the BCCI should consider scheduling matches in Kerala during this period. “Aaiye Kerala (come to Kerala),” he said, drawing a smile from Shukla. Kerala, being in South India, does not face fog issues and has good cricket infrastructure, making it a viable alternative venue during the winter months.

Axar Patel ruled out, Shahbaz Ahmed called up

Ahead of the abandoned fourth T20I, India all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the remaining matches of the series due to illness. The BCCI announced on December 15 that the Men’s Selection Committee had named Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement for the last two T20Is. Axar remained with the team for further medical assessment but was unavailable for selection.

Final T20I in Ahmedabad to decide series

With the series now tied at 2-1 in India’s favor following the abandonment, the final T20I will be played in Ahmedabad on December 19. Ahmedabad, being in Gujarat, does not face the same fog problems as North Indian cities, and the match is expected to go ahead without weather-related disruptions. India will be looking to seal the series, while South Africa will aim to level it and share the spoils.