The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has signed an agreement with UN Environment to promote ‘green’ cricket in India, the board announced in a statement on Sunday 27 May.

Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2018 final between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai, Amitabh Choudhary, the Acting Honorary Secretary of the BCCI, and Erik Solheim, the Executive Director of UN Environment, signed a letter of intent at the BCCI’s headquarters.

“The board is happy to announce its partnership with UN Environment,” Choudhary said. “This is a major step in spreading the message of environmental conservation. We will help make cricket green and sensitise spectators towards minimising waste generation during matches.”

As part of the partnership, the BCCI will strive to put in place ‘greening operations’, along with engaging cricketers and fans in initiatives to spread awareness about safeguarding the environment.

The BCCI will focus greatly on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums in India. To that end, at the Holkar Stadium in Indore during the IPL, a plastic audit was undertaken to assess the various types and volume of single-use plastic generated, and the way forward for management of the waste.

Solheim said the power of cricket could help inspire a cleaner environment. “The environment and sports are more closely connected than people think,” he said. “If we don’t have a healthy environment, then sports will not thrive.

“I am delighted that UN Environment is partnering with the BCCI to use the power of cricket to inspire action for a cleaner environment.”