Pollution was among the topics discussed when Rohit Sharma met the press on Thursday ahead of India's ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. The Indian skipper, who also leads the Mumbai Indians in IPL, expressed concern for future generations amidst the worsening air quality in the city.
"Every time I get to speak outside of cricket, or not discussing cricket, I always talk about this. We have to look after our future generations. Looking at our future generations, your kids, my kid. Obviously it is important that they get to live without any fear," the Indian captain was quoted as saying by the press.
"It is not ideal and everyone knows that. In an ideal world, you do not want a situation like this but I am pretty sure that the concerned people are taking the necessary steps to avoid this kind of situation," the ESPNCricInfo quoted Rohit as saying.
The worsening air quality in Mumbai and the national capital Delhi was also acknowledged by the BCCI amidst the ongoing tournament. The cricket governing body had thus decided to cancel fireworks at the two cities.
"BCCI is sensitive to environmental concerns. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won't be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level. The board is committed to combating environmental issues and will always place the interest of our fans and stakeholders at the forefront," the BCCI had reportedly said in a statement.
The Bombay High Court too, had expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality index (AQI) in the city while taking suo motu cognisance of the issue.
After the Indo-Lankan contest, Mumbai's Wankhade is scheduled to host two more games in the World Cup -- Afghanistan vs Australia on November 7 and the first semi-final on November 15.
