The fourth Twenty20 International between India and South Africa, scheduled at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on December 17, 2025, was officially abandoned without a single ball being bowled, as excessive fog combined with a dense blanket of smog drastically reduced visibility, rendering competitive play impossible under international standards.

Match officials, including umpires, conducted six separate inspections over more than two hours, persistently hoping for improvement, but the hazardous conditions—exacerbated by an Air Quality Index surpassing 400 in hazardous territory—ultimately forced the decision to call off the contest around 9:30 PM, marking a rare environmental disruption in limited-overs cricket.

Participants from both teams, notably Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya who donned a protective mask during initial warm-ups to mitigate pollution effects, curtailed their preparations early and retreated to dressing rooms by 7:30 PM, while a substantial crowd of spectators, enduring chilly temperatures, gradually dispersed in disappointment as prospects dimmed.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India encountered widespread criticism for adhering to evening start times in northern Indian venues during December's peak winter season, a period historically plagued by severe fog and elevated smog levels in cities such as Lucknow, thereby inviting foreseeable risks to match viability and participant well-being.

Observers and stakeholders proposed proactive measures that could have averted the impasse, including potential venue interchanges with forthcoming series in milder southern and western regions, adoption of afternoon timings to capitalize on better daylight visibility, or incorporation of reserve days, all aimed at safeguarding player health, ensuring spectator value, and upholding the integrity of international fixtures amid recurring climatic challenges.

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