The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India drew a record-breaking number of spectators. But behind the scenes, organizers were trying to downplay a serious issue — the growing impact of climate change on cricket. Players had to contend not only with extreme heat and humidity but also with polluted air from traffic, factories, and construction sites. This was made worse by high temperatures recorded in 20 out of 47 matches.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world is “on the brink of disaster” and heading toward a “hellish future.” Many sports are at risk — and cricket is one of them. Today, this sport has reached unprecedented popularity. That’s confirmed by Google Trends data and insights from gaming-related websites. To get a better picture, we analyzed several of these platforms. On site iplbettingapps.net, we found a surge in newly launched IPL betting apps. This shows that bookmakers recognize cricket’s rising popularity and are entering the market with competitive offerings.
It’s no surprise that the UN chief’s statement caused a stir and alarmed cricket fans around the world.
Climate and Cricket
Cricket matches are held outdoors, often in the summer, making weather and environmental conditions extremely important. Cricket is arguably one of the sports most vulnerable to climate change. Extreme heat and rising temperatures threaten the safety of both players and spectators, disrupt pitch preparation and maintenance, and increase the risk of droughts, floods, and air pollution.
The issue is even more serious in unstable regions where cricket is popular. Bangladesh and Pakistan rank 7th and 8th, respectively, on the Climate Risk Index for vulnerability. Cricket isn’t just affected by climate change — in some ways, it contributes to it.
The sport requires substantial resources. Preparing a single pitch for a game can consume around 60,000 liters of water per day. With the rise in international tournaments, the number of long-haul flights has also increased. A study revealed that a single Indian Premier League match generates about 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Cricket, in other words, leaves a significant carbon footprint.
Environment and Sport
Although cricket faces a potential existential crisis, sustainability efforts within the sport are moving more slowly compared to others. Under the Paris Agreement, the International Olympic Committee has committed to reducing direct and indirect carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. It has also pledged that the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane will be “climate-positive.”
Sustainability strategies have been adopted by FIFA, World Rugby, Formula One, and various American sports leagues including the NBA. SailGP has even created an “Impact League” that scores teams based on their efforts to reduce environmental harm. In contrast, the International Cricket Council has yet to release any formal sustainability plan.
More than 200 sports organizations have signed the UN’s “Sports for Climate Action” framework, which calls for a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2040. Only six of those organizations are cricket-related — and most of them are based in England.
