For the first time in the history of Delhi, we saw a different kind of smog and smoke that really choked us. It choked our nostrils, it choked our throat, it choked out our eyes and also choked our daily routine. There were different type of molecules in the air which were the result of the burning of crackers in the capital city. It was disgusting feeling to wake up in such an atmosphere and then rush to offices. Yuvraj Singh was very-very lucky to score his double century on the day of Diwali as it was the succeeding day when all this mayhem started.
The impact of this ‘Fog Emergency’ created in Delhi can be adjudged by the fact that this ‘Fog Emergency’ started on November 1 and continued for more than 10 days, as a result, the two Ranji Trophy games between Bengal and Gujarat, Hyderabad and Tripura scheduled to be played in Delhi were cancelled without being a ball being bowled.
There was no play on day 1 of the game and the umpires waited for another day in hope of conditions getting better for play. An off from work on day 2 of the game, gave me a chance to see that if the playing conditions worst for playing or just players are being extra cautious. I was astounded to see that the Feroz Shah ground was the worst affected area as even the pitch was not visible from the press box. The players and officials were just waiting for conditions to get better. It were the officials who had a tough time as players were busy taking selfies; thus managing to kill the free time.
Finally, on day 2, an hour after I left the field after knowing that conditions would not get better, a tweet from BCCI domestic handle read that those two games have been cancelled. BCCI was quick to issue a statement that cancelled games will be rescheduled. This was something we never experienced or even heard of.
Being a keen follower of domestic cricket from past four years and having seen countless games being washed out due to rain or due to fog issues in northern part of India, this was something out of the box.
Every association knew that BCCI has decided to reschedule the game but they were busy making forward plans, so none of them pays heed to this except the four associations involved.
The issue again got the fire when BCCI, in the last week of November finally announced that the rescheduled games will be played from December 15 to 18. That was the time when few associations found that this rescheduling is unfair and will have an impact on their future. Hence, they started to protest for the same. Mumbai Cricket Association and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association were the two stated boards who lodged a protest over this.
Now the question arises whether this rescheduling is fair or unfair to other associations? For this, we have to look a table below –
Points Table
| Teams | Points |
| Mumbai | 29 |
| Gujarat | 24 |
| Tamil Nadu | 23 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 19 |
| Punjab | 18 |
| Bengal | 17 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 10 |
| Railways | 10 |
| Baroda | 9 |
This table shows that Bengal has played six games but ideally they have played seven if we include that cancelled game. Whether the toss ceremony took place or not, that has nothing to do with the number of games and ideally, Bengal has played seven games. So is the case with Gujarat.
Both Bengal and Gujarat have won two games each with Gujarat having 24 points and Bengal 17 points in the bag. Gujarat has a fair chance of qualifying for the next round without the help of rescheduled game whereas Bengal is in desperate need of that game.
Mumbai is the table topper with 29 points and Tamil Nadu with 23 points sits on the second rank. After watching the table, it came learned that all the top six teams have a chance to qualify for knockouts except Uttar Pradesh (seventh position), Railways (eighth position) and Baroda (ninth position).
Mumbai has already qualified for the quarters but in case they lose the last game, they will be relegated down in the points table which they would never want. Even after winning the next game by a bonus point, they still can be relegated. So this is the thing which is pinching the 41 time champion of Ranji Trophy. This is probably the reason why they are protesting but a protest by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association is genuine. They are in the third position with 23 points and even a bonus point win in the next will not be enough for them to secure a place in the knockouts as in case of a bonus point win, they will end up with 30 points.
If Gujarat wins their next game against Tamil and lose the rescheduled game, then it will this will put Tamil Nadu’s chances in limbo, and if Bengal is able to draw one game and win the won, then Tamil Nadu will be out of the competition. This is the fact that has forced TNCA to lodge a protest
If BCCI, at that time, would have given one point to each team, then this would not have created such a chaos and ruckus. All the teams would have a clear equation without any mayhem and confusion. These rescheduled games have become more of an issue rather than a problem-solving kind of thing.
In the end, it can be said that this rescheduling of games is unfair as this has now put hopes of other teams hanging in the air showing no propensity to move. It has created more and more confusion. Now BCCI is also thinking to have a look in the matter as this rescheduling is surely unfair means to failitate other teams to walk ahead through backdoor method, a thing which can tarnish the image of the game and can be a blot on its supremacy.