Delhi Test: Mask-wearing Lankans force India to declare at 536/7 on smog-hit day

New Delhi, December 3 : In an unprecedented turn of events, the embattled Sri Lankan cricket team on Sunday held up proceedings in the third Test against India, complaining of poor air quality and forced the hosts to declare its innings.
In a first-ever incident in the 140-year-history of Test cricket, an international team wore anti-pollution masks while fielding and then refused to continue, stopping play for 26 minutes on three occasions.
Sri Lanka’s refusal forced an animated India skipper Virat Kohli to declare at 536 for 7 after some of the visiting team’s substitute fielders refused to take the field. Once an angry-looking Kohli signalled declaration to the on-field batsmen Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja, the Lankan players were booed by a 20,000 strong crowd, chanting ‘losers, losers’ as the players from the island nation retreated to the dressing room.