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The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) put an end to rumors on Thursday, confirming that the opening T20I between India and Afghanistan will proceed as planned at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13. Reports had sparked doubts over the fixture, alleging that security conflicts surrounding the high-profile BRICS Summit in the capital might force a schedule change.
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With the international summit running from September 11 to 13, extensive VVIP traffic and tight security measures in New Delhi led to widespread speculation that local law enforcement had raised red flags regarding game day coverage. However, DDCA officials clarified that no official request for a delay or venue shift had been communicated, ultimately clearing the way for the series opener to go ahead as scheduled.
Despite widespread reports hinting at a possible 24-hour delay due to severe traffic and security hurdles linked to the BRICS Summit, the DDCA has firmly put those rumors to rest, confirming no schedule changes will be made.
The logistical challenge stems from geography: Bharat Mandapam—the summit's host site—and the Arun Jaitley Stadium are separated by just five kilometers along Mahatma Gandhi Road. With heavy VVIP transit expected, central Delhi will see stringent road closures and traffic diversions, alongside mandated closures of local schools and government offices.
Despite these capital-wide restrictions, the three-match T20I leg between India and Afghanistan remains firmly locked in for September 13 to 17. With all three fixtures slated for 7:00 PM IST starts at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, venue officials maintain that the series opener will run precisely as planned.
India’s squad for Afghanistan T20Is:
Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur
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