The fourth T20I between India and South Africa at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium was abandoned without a single ball being bowled on Wednesday night, after dense fog and smog made playing conditions unsafe. The late decision sparked widespread frustration among fans, many of whom packed the stadium in anticipation of an exciting contest.
The match was scheduled for a 7 pm IST start, but worsening visibility throughout the evening prevented the toss from taking place. Despite multiple delays and inspections, conditions failed to improve, forcing officials to call off the game.
Umpires conduct multiple inspections before calling off the match
As fog thickened over the ground, umpires conducted six separate inspections in an attempt to salvage the contest. Ground staff and match officials waited in the hope that conditions would clear enough for at least a shortened game.
However, even after more than two hours of delays, visibility remained well below safe standards for players and officials. At approximately 9:25 pm, the decision was finally taken to abandon the match entirely.
With no result possible, the series scoreline remains 2-1 in India’s favour, setting up a decisive fifth T20I in Ahmedabad.
Fans vent anger outside Ekana Stadium
“Refund, refund” chants echo after abandonment
The abandonment triggered angry scenes outside the stadium, where heartbroken supporters gathered holding their tickets and demanding full refunds. Many fans accused organisers of poor planning, questioning why an evening fixture was scheduled in northern India during peak winter, when fog is a regular occurrence.
Television cameras captured emotional exchanges as crowds chanted “refund, refund”, expressing both financial and emotional distress. Several fans said they travelled long distances and incurred significant expenses to attend what they hoped would be a memorable match.
Viral fan comment highlights financial strain
“I sold three sacks of wheat to watch the match”
One supporter’s comment quickly went viral on social media, underlining the human cost behind the cancellation. “I sold three sacks of wheat and came here to watch the match. I want my money back,” the fan said, reflecting the sacrifices made by some spectators to see India play live.
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: Cricket fans express their disappointment as IND vs SA 4th T20 match gets abandoned without a ball being bowled, due to fog.
A fan says, “I sold three sacks of wheat and came here to watch the match. I want my money back…” pic.twitter.com/tMXf7Xo02Y
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2025
The remark struck a chord across the cricketing community, prompting debates about accessibility, ticket pricing and the responsibilities of organisers toward fans from rural and economically vulnerable backgrounds.
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BCCI refund policy and the expectations of fans
Under BCCI’s standard policy, ticket refunds are permitted when a match is abandoned without any play. While this provides some relief, many fans argued that reimbursement alone does not compensate for the time, travel costs and lost daily wages incurred.
Supporters also called for better scheduling and venue selection, urging the board to avoid night matches in fog-prone regions during winter months.
🚨 SERIOUS CONCERN OVER BCCI SCHEDULING
The 4th T20I between India and South Africa being called off due to dense smog at Ekana Stadium raises serious questions on BCCI’s scheduling decisions. Hosting matches in northern cities like Lucknow, New Chandigarh and Dharamsala during… pic.twitter.com/bPzD3N06n4
— Eshani Verma (@eshaniverma809) December 17, 2025
According to fans, such planning oversights undermine trust and dampen the overall match-day experience.
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