Delhi T20I Between India and Afghanistan to Go Ahead

The opening T20 International between India and Afghanistan will go ahead as scheduled on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the Delhi and District Cricket Association said on Thursday, despite an earlier request from Delhi Police to reschedule the fixture because of the BRICS Summit. In a statement posted on X, the DDCA said the match would not be postponed. The association said that following a meeting with Delhi Traffic Police, it had been assured of all necessary support and arrangements for the game. The clarification came after Delhi Police wrote to the DDCA asking it to consider moving the match. In a letter dated September 9, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, traffic Central Range, said a large number of foreign delegates, dignitaries and VVIPs were expected in Delhi for the BRICS Summit, scheduled for September 12 and 13. The letter said the summit required extensive traffic arrangements, including route regulation, diversions, route clearance and deployment of personnel, and noted that the cricket match was expected to attract roughly 25,000 to 35,000 spectators while the entire traffic police force would already be deployed for summit-related duties.