Sports
oi-Swastika Sruti
India-Afghanistan T20I series in Delhi was in some trouble for a while due to the threat of BRICS Summit being held in the capital of India on September 13.
Delhi Traffic Police requested a postponement of the India-Afghanistan T20I match on Sep 13 due to the BRICS Summit, but DDCA confirmed the game will proceed at Arun Jaitley Stadium after receiving assurances.
Though the game was originally fixed for September 13, but a possible change in the date was reported after Delhi Traffic Police approached DDCA for considering postponement of the game.
There was one obvious reason behind the demand of the police, as two big international games were going to be held in the capital city, creating immense pressure for the city regarding traffic and security.
It should be noted here that the date has not been changed yet, as DDCA has informed the Delhi Traffic Police about playing the first T20I game on September 13 at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Why Did Delhi Police Want the Match Postponed?
However, the issue at hand was the possible conflict of interest due to the simultaneous hosting of a cricket match and the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. It is expected that the BRICS Summit will invite many foreign dignitaries, high-ranking officials, diplomats, and other delegations to the city.
Security as well as traffic management for such guests requires a lot of planning, and the roads need to be cleared off.
Therefore, adding a cricket match into the schedule would have complicated things further.
25,000-35,000 Cricket Fans Added to the Challenge
Besides that, the traffic police had an additional issue to consider as well – the likely attendance at Arun Jaitley Stadium. It is estimated that the match between India and Afghanistan will attract about 25,000 to 35,000 people.
Therefore, thousands of people will move to central Delhi at the same time as security officials will have to handle the transportation of diplomats and their convoy. The traffic police said that most of their workforce will be busy with BRICS-related tasks.
What Did the Traffic Police Ask the DDCA?
In a letter dated September 9, the DCP Traffic (Central Range) asked the DDCA to consider moving the September 13 match to a later date.
The police cited the international importance of the BRICS Summit and the extensive traffic arrangements required for the event.
The request was essentially aimed at avoiding a situation where cricket crowds, VIP movements and traffic restrictions all collided on the same day.
So, Was the Match Date Actually Changed?
No.
The initial reports created uncertainty about a possible postponement, but the DDCA later clarified that the fixture would remain on September 13. Following a meeting with the Delhi Traffic Police, the association said it had been assured of the necessary support and arrangements to conduct the match.
The first T20I will therefore take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, as originally planned.
Why Did the Confusion Arise?
The confusion came from the traffic police’s request to consider rescheduling the game.
Earlier reports suggested that changing the fixture could require coordination with the BCCI and the Union Home Ministry.
But after discussions between the DDCA and Delhi Traffic Police, the authorities decided that the two events could be managed together.
So, rather than a confirmed change in the match schedule, what happened was a request for postponement followed by a decision to retain the original date.
India vs Afghanistan T20I Schedule
All three matches in the series will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
- 1st T20I: September 13
- 2nd T20I: September 15
- 3rd T20I: September 17
Afghanistan is officially the host of the three-match series, even though all the games are being played in India.
