The India-Afghanistan series opener at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium will be played on September 13 as scheduled after the DDCA received assurances from Delhi Traffic Police over security and traffic arrangements.
The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will go ahead as scheduled on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) confirming that there will be no change to the fixture despite concerns over the BRICS Summit.
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Afghanistan are set to host India in a three-match T20I series, with the remaining matches scheduled for September 15 and 17. The opening game had come under a cloud of uncertainty after the Delhi Traffic Police asked the DDCA to consider postponing the match because of the extensive security and traffic arrangements planned for the BRICS Summit.
The summit is scheduled for September 12 and 13 and is expected to bring a large number of foreign delegates, dignitaries and VVIPs to the national capital. With significant police deployment required for the event, traffic authorities had raised concerns about managing the additional movement expected around the cricket stadium.
However, following a meeting between the DDCA and Delhi Traffic Police, the association confirmed that the match would not be postponed.
“India-Afghanistan 1st T20I on 13 September at Arun Jaitley Stadium will go ahead as scheduled,” the DDCA said in a post on X. The association added that it had been assured of “all necessary support and arrangements” by the Delhi Traffic Police.
The traffic police had earlier written to the DDCA on September 9, highlighting the scale of arrangements required for the BRICS Summit. These include regulation of VIP and VVIP routes, traffic diversions, route clearance and the deployment of personnel to ensure the smooth movement of foreign delegates and their vehicles.
The authorities also pointed to the expected attendance for the cricket match. Around 25,000 to 35,000 spectators are expected at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, adding another layer to the traffic management challenge on a day when security agencies will already be stretched by summit-related duties.
In its communication, the traffic police had described the BRICS Summit as an event of international importance and asked the DDCA to consider moving the September 13 fixture to a date after the summit and associated traffic arrangements were completed.
The DDCA, however, has now received the necessary assurances and decided to retain the original schedule.
The development means fans can look forward to the series opener in Delhi as planned. India and Afghanistan will then move on to the second T20I on September 15 before completing the three-match series on September 17.
For now, the focus shifts back to the cricket, with Delhi preparing to handle both a major international summit and a sizeable crowd at one of the capital’s biggest sporting venues on the same weekend.
