India vs Australia 2019, ODI Series – BCCI Acting President Confirms Not Shifting Of Mohali And Delhi ODIs
Mar 3, 2019 at 10:07 AM
On Friday (1 March), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the upcoming Mohali and Delhi ODIs would run as per the schedule. It means that the matches will not be shifted in the present situation.
The host India and visitor Australia have started to play the five-match ODI series on this Saturday (2 March). According to the schedule, Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium (Mohali) will host the fourth ODI of the series on 10 March.
Meanwhile, the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground (Delhi) will host the fifth and final ODI of the series on 13 March.
Since the Pulwama terror attack, the Cricket Australia (CA) is in concern about the security arrangement. Meanwhile, on this Wednesday (27 February), India shot down Pakistan’s F16 fighter jet in Kashmir’s Budgam district. After that, Delhi and Chandigarh airports were briefly shut down for several hours. These situations have put serious doubt on the Mohali and Delhi ODIs.
The BCCI was reportedly looking for the alternate venues for those ODIs. However, the BCCI acting president CK Khanna clarified on Friday that those matches would go ahead as per schedule.
He told PTI, “There is certainly no such plan to shift any of the games from their original venues. I can confirm that both ODIs in Mohali and Delhi, [are] happening as per schedule.”
The BCCI hadn’t any discussion on shifting venues
After knowing the possible venue-shifting report, the Saurashtra Cricket Association has recently proposed to the BCCI to organize one ODI of this India-Australia series. They sent an email to the BCCI to inform that the SCA stadium is ready to host an ODI.
While the BCCI feels nice on Saurashtra’s request, CK Khanna also revealed that they hadn’t any discussion on shifting venues.
CK Khanna added, “As far as a back-up venue is concerned, the BCCI always has alternate arrangements in place in case a venue expresses its inability to hold a game. It was nice of Saurashtra to put their hand up but as of now, it will not be necessary.”
In this ongoing India tour, Australia has come to play two T20Is and five ODIs. In the two-match T20I series, Australia won by 2-0. It was their first international bilateral series victory in India since 2009.
The ongoing five-match ODI series will run from 2 March to 13 March.