Rahim guides Bangladesh to victory against India in smog-hit Delhi
Sports Scene
Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim leaves the crease during an ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up match against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, May 27, 2017. /VCG File Photo

Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim leaves the crease during an ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up match against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, May 27, 2017. /VCG File Photo

Even though Delhi's hazardous pollution level took center stage, Bangladesh managed to beat India in the opening Twenty20 International match in a smog-engulfed Indian capital on Sunday. The opening game of the series raised quite a controversy as the alarming toxic level in Delhi's air raised doubts over the venue's suitability to stage the game.

However, the organizers and the participating teams went ahead with the match and Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim didn't show any sign of being affected by the pollution as he anchored his side to an easy seven-wicket victory at a smog-hit Arun Jaitley Stadium. Rahim slammed an unbeaten half-century to power Bangladesh to their first-ever Twenty20 international victory over India in the 1000th T20 international game in the history of cricket. The diminutive batsman scored 60 runs as Bangladesh chased down their target of 149 runs with three balls to spare.

The Indian capital has been blanketed by smog over the past one week and the authorities have been saying that air pollution has reached "emergency" levels. Schools have been closed for a few days and other restrictions have also been imposed in the north Indian city.

Security personnel are seen wearing masks as they stand guard during a hazy morning in New Delhi, India, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

Security personnel are seen wearing masks as they stand guard during a hazy morning in New Delhi, India, November 3, 2019. /VCG Photo

But it was business as usual on the cricket field as Bangladesh, who had trained in masks for the opening game of their tour, won the toss and elected to field first. Their bowlers displayed a disciplined performance as the tourists restricted the hosts to 148 for six in their stipulated 20 overs. In reply, Bangladesh faced some early hiccups as they were down to 54-2 before top-order batsman Soumya Sarkar and Rahim put on a crucial 60-run stand for the third wicket. Sarkar hit 39 runs as Rahim guided his side to an emphatic win.

"Pollution is not an issue for me. I was more concerned about facing the opposition bowlers than worry about pollution," Rahim said after his match-winning innings.

"Irrespective of the condition we had to play. Since the moment we arrived in India it was like this and we did cope up with the weather and performed on match day," he added. Meanwhile, the newly-elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly thanked both the teams for braving the extreme conditions and taking the field on a gloomy and smokey day. "Thank u to both the teams to play this game @ImRo45 @BCBtigers under tough conditions... well done Bangladesh," the former Indian captain wrote on Twitter.