Dale Steyn has criticised match officials after the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned due to excessive fog. The South African legend questioned the decision-making process and called for more transparency from umpires when dealing with such situations.

Match abandoned after three-hour delay

The fourth T20I at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow was called off on December 17, 2025, after multiple inspections and delays totaling around three hours. Heavy fog engulfed the stadium throughout the evening, and with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 400, both visibility and playing conditions were deemed unsafe. The umpires conducted several inspections before finally abandoning the match around 9:30 PM IST.

The abandonment meant no result was possible, leaving the five-match series at 2-1 in favour of India heading into the final T20I in Ahmedabad on December 19. Fans who had gathered at the venue were disappointed, and there was widespread frustration over the delays before the inevitable decision was made.

Steyn’s criticism of umpires’ decision-making

Speaking on JioHotstar, Dale Steyn expressed confusion about the exact parameters being assessed by the on-field umpires during the repeated inspections. He said he would have liked to question the umpires directly about what rules and factors they were considering before making the final call.

“I was going to say I’d love to get one of the umpires. Sometimes they say there’s another inspection at 8:30, but I don’t know all the rules they’re looking at. As a player, you just play the game. It would be informative to know what they’re assessing and thinking. If they walk past again, we should grab them and ask for clarity,” Steyn said.

He added that as a former player, he felt the match could have been played under those conditions, but acknowledged there must be something in the rules preventing it. His comments reflected the frustration of many who felt the umpires should have called off the match earlier rather than keeping players and fans waiting for hours.

Robin Uthappa also questions the delays

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa, who was also part of the broadcast commentary team, expressed strong surprise at the umpires’ decision to continue delaying the match despite worsening conditions. He questioned the logic of giving the situation more time when it was clear that the fog would only get worse as the night progressed.

“I’m actually not even listening to you because I’m so befuddled by the umpire’s decision right now. How do they think it’s going to get better as the night wears on? It’s not going to get better, it’s only going to get worse. It’s counterintuitive. What are they actually thinking, and what do they think will happen in half an hour that hasn’t happened over the last hour and a half? It’s quite confusing that they’ve still decided to give it half an hour more,” Uthappa said.

Both Steyn and Uthappa’s comments highlighted a common concern: the lack of clear communication from match officials about what criteria they use to make such decisions and why they continued to delay rather than abandon the match earlier.

Poor AQI and visibility concerns

The Air Quality Index in Lucknow on the night of the match was over 400, which is classified as “severe” and poses serious health risks, especially for athletes performing at high intensity. Combined with the thick fog that made it nearly impossible to see across the field, the conditions were far from ideal for international cricket.

Players from both teams were reportedly ready to play if given the go-ahead, but ultimately the umpires decided that the visibility and air quality were not safe enough. The decision to abandon was the correct one in hindsight, but the prolonged delay and lack of transparency around the decision-making process drew criticism from experts and fans alike.

Series moves to Ahmedabad for decider

With the fourth T20I abandoned, the series remains at 2-1 in India’s favour heading into the fifth and final T20I in Ahmedabad on December 19. India need just a draw or a win to seal the series, while South Africa must win to level it at 2-2. The decider promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams looking to finish the T20I leg on a high before moving on to other commitments.