Kolkata Knight Riders’ home match against Rajasthan Royals, scheduled for April 17, has been brought up by a day to April 16, after the Kolkata police expressed concerns over providing security for both the match and local celebrations for Ram Navami, a Hindu festival. Bengal also begins voting in India’s general elections from April 19, so a section of security personnel will already be deployed for that.
Subsequently, the game originally scheduled for April 16, Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad, has been moved to April 17.
“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 said in a letter to Cricket Association of Bengal president Snehasish Ganguly, PTI reported.
While announcing the switch, the statement put out by the IPL did not mention what happens to tickets already sold for either game.
Matches being shifted owing to security forces being tied up elsewhere, often because of festivals, is not uncommon in India.
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