The first T20I between India and Afghanistan was facing the possibility of being postponed by a day due to security concerns linked to the BRICS Summit in the national capital. However, the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) has said the match will go ahead as scheduled on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
The situation, however, remains fluid, with people involved in the conduct of the match indicating that a change in schedule has not been completely ruled out.
The match had come under scrutiny after security concerns emerged around the BRICS Summit being held in Delhi. The Delhi Police had sought a change in the schedule, with the movement of teams and spectators and the deployment of security personnel among the key considerations.
The DDCA, however, said late on Thursday evening that there was no change to the scheduled date of the match.
“India–Afghanistan 1st T20I on 13 September at Arun Jaitley Stadium will go ahead as scheduled. Following a meeting with Delhi Traffic Police, DDCA has been assured of all necessary support and arrangements,” the DDCA said in a social media post.
Despite the announcement, there remains some uncertainty over the fixture. According to sources, there is still a push to postpone the match by a day, which would see the game played on September 14, coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi.
The three-match T20I series is currently scheduled to begin in Delhi on September 13, followed by the second match on September 15 and the third on September 17.
For now, the DDCA’s position is that the opening T20I will be played on Sunday as planned, although the final call on the schedule could still depend on the security arrangements surrounding the BRICS Summit.
