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| October 20, 2006 | Friday | Ramazan 26, 1427 |
Ashes rivals face Trophy ordeal
MUMBAI, Oct 19: Old foes Australia and England will play their Champions Trophy match on Saturday amid deafening blasts, choking air and poor visibility.
The high-profile Group A match in the eight-nation tournament is slated in the northwestern city of Jaipur on the day India celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights.
Diwali, the country's biggest Hindu festival, is marked by ear-splitting fireworks that begin at dusk and continue for hours, leaving a dark haze of smoke and heavily polluted air.
A recent non-governmental study said noise levels soar by nearly 200 percent on Diwali and the air is polluted at least 150 times more than already-high levels, leading to increased cases of asthma.
Firecrackers will be banned from the Sawai Man Singh stadium, the match venue, but it is likely to be engulfed in a thick blanket of smoke from those let off in adjoining areas.
The peak hours of the celebrations will coincide with the second innings of the day/night international, the first meeting between Australia and England since the famous Ashes series last year.
There will be no let-up even in the afternoon session since firecrackers are let off from morning of the auspicious festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Day matches have been played before on Diwali, but this is the first time a day-night international has been scheduled.
The date for this year's Diwali, which is fixed according to the Hindu calendar, was known in January. The schedule for the Champions Trophy was finalised in April.
Indian cricket authorities said they had warned the sport's world governing body against holding the match on Diwali, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
“We had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to have a rethink, but they said both Australia and England had not expressed any reservations,” an official said.
ICC spokesman Brian Murgatroyd said the matter had been discussed when the schedule was being finalised.
“It's not an issue at all. We do not anticipate any problems,” he said.
The ICC has nevertheless paid the hosts US$700,000 to cover the cost of additional security after the Rajasthan Cricket Association feared they would be unable to provide adequate security on Diwali.
Police and para-military forces from adjoining states have been summoned to Jaipur for the match, officials said.
Both England and Australia have in the past complained about polluted air while touring India.—AFP
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