Have Your Say:Lankan cricketers get flak on social media for wearing masks

The Sri Lankan cricket team's decision to temporarily halt a Test match in Delhi due to pollution caused a lot of anger in India and outcry on social media, however  medical expert told the BBC they made the right call.

The Indian capital has seen toxic air quality levels for weeks. On Sunday, by WHO standards, it was "very poor" - when heavy exertion is not advised.

The visiting players wore face masks and there were just 10 men on the pitch at one point.

This is the first time an international cricket match has been halted due to pollution levels in a host city.

But many others have jumped to their defence.

Dr Prashant Saxena, chief pulmonologist at the Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, told the BBC that he thinks the Sri Lankan team did the right thing.

"No one can play any games outside in this environment," he said. "Any kind of physical exertion in this kind of air can cause difficulties in breathing, watery eyes and coughing - you need to be alert to play cricket, which is not possible in these conditions."

Additionally, he added that a cricket stadium may actually heighten the effects of pollution, saying that "ventilation is lower in stadiums, which means one could inhale more dust particles and toxic fumes."

Dr Saxena added however, that the masks worn by the Sri Lankans would be useless against the toxic gases in the air, but conceded that "it made the right statement about the polluted environment."