Two IPL 2024 matches involving the Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans and the Delhi Capitals were swapped, announced the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday.
“BCCI announced the rescheduling of two TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 matches,” the board said in an official release.
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The fixture between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, which was earlier scheduled to take place on April 17 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata will now be played a day earlier on April 16.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad was earlier scheduled to host the match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals on April 16. The fixture will now be played on April 17.
Why the change in IPL 2024 schedule?
The BCCI did not specify the reasons behind this swap but news agency PTI had reported that it was due to the Ram Navami festival. It was learned that Kolkata Police expressed its inability to provide adequate security cover for what will be KKR’s third home game of the 17th IPL season, just three days after they host the Lucknow Super Giants.
“Since the match is coinciding with Ram Navami and a portion of security is already deployed for elections. Therefore it won’t be possible for us to provide adequate security for the match on April 17,” Kolkata Police had stated in a letter to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehasish Ganguly.
Bengal is also set to vote on April 19 in the first phase of the seven-phase general elections. The voting in Kolkata will take place on June 1.
“Yes, the CAB has informed us that the local police has asked for rescheduling of the date and the matter is being looked into. We haven’t yet decided on the new date,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on Monday.
On part of CAB, a senior office-bearer had informed: “We have suggested two dates, April 16 or 18. In any case, it is KKR’s home match and will be played at the Eden Gardens.”
The CAB had suggested that the match be advanced either by a day (16 April) or pushed back by 24 hours to 18 April.
KKR is currently in Visakhapatnam for a game against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.
They had begun the season with a thrilling four-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens, followed by a seven-wicket thumping of Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans are placed fourth in the standings with four points, following two wins and a loss from four outings.
Tags: BCCI reschedules KKR IPL matches Check dates venue details Cricket
