India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I in Delhi to go ahead as scheduled on September 13: DDCA

The India-Afghanistan first T20I in New Delhi will go ahead as scheduled on September 13, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) said on Thursday, rejecting reports that the match could be postponed due to security concerns linked to the BRICS Summit.

The match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium had come under a cloud of uncertainty after reports suggested that the Delhi Police had raised concerns about hosting the game during the summit, which will see several VVIP movements and security restrictions across the national capital from September 11 to 13.

However, DDCA sources told India Today that they had received no information or instructions to shift the match as of 6pm on Thursday. The association later officially confirmed that the first T20I would be played on its scheduled date.

"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. No postponement," the DDCA's official handle posted on X.

There had been multiple reports suggesting that the first T20I could be pushed back by a day because of the security and traffic challenges posed by the summit. However, the DDCA has now made it clear that there is no postponement at this stage.

Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the BRICS Summit, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium are around five kilometres apart and are connected by Mahatma Gandhi Road. With several VVIP routes expected to be operational, the summit is likely to bring significant traffic restrictions to central Delhi.

Schools and government offices will remain shut during the summit, while authorities have issued several advisories regarding road closures and traffic diversions.

The three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan is scheduled to be played from September 13 to September 17, with all three matches set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, starting at 7 pm IST.

For now, the DDCA has confirmed that the series opener will proceed as planned despite the security arrangements being put in place for the BRICS Summit.