The Delhi Traffic Police has asked the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) to consider rescheduling or postponing the first T20I between India and Afghanistan, scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, citing extensive traffic and security arrangements for the BRICS Summit being held in the Capital.
The three-match T20I series is scheduled to begin on September 13, with the remaining matches to be played on September 15 and 17 at the same venue. The BRICS Summit, meanwhile, will be held in Delhi from September 11 to 13 and is expected to bring a large number of foreign delegates, dignitaries and VVIPs to the city, requiring major traffic regulation, diversions and route-clearance arrangements.
Police flag manpower constraints
In a communication to the DDCA secretary, the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Central Range, said the Summit would require extensive deployment for VVIP and VIP movement, route regulation, diversions and uninterrupted passage of foreign delegations. Traffic personnel are expected to be heavily engaged in Summit-related duties on September 13, making simultaneous arrangements for the international cricket match difficult.
Police said the T20I could attract between 25,000 and 35,000 spectators. The areas surrounding the Arun Jaitley Stadium, including DDU Marg, BSZ Marg, Minto Road and Kamla Market, already experience substantial vehicular and pedestrian movement. Match-related traffic and parking around BSZ Marg, Mata Sundari College, Rajghat and Bal Bhawan could further reduce available road space and trigger congestion.
Emergency access among concerns
The Traffic Police warned that handling the match alongside the Summit could put considerable pressure on available manpower and create challenges in crowd regulation, parking management, traffic diversions, route clearance and emergency access.
Given the international importance of the BRICS Summit, the DDCA has been requested to consider moving the opening T20I to a suitable date after the Summit and associated traffic arrangements conclude. There was no immediate confirmation of a revised date, with the match continuing to be listed for September 13 as of Thursday evening.
India and Afghanistan are scheduled to play all three T20Is at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with the second and third matches set for September 15 and 17, respectively.