India-WI 1st T20I: MCA hopes to sort out security issue
India and West Indies are set to face each other in a three-match T20I series, starting December 6 at the Wankhede in Mumbai. The Mumbai Police had expressed its inability to provide security for the match and there were calls of shifting the match elsewhere. However, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is still optimistic of the match being held. Here's more.
The Mumbai Police is set to be on a high alert on December 6. This is due to the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition and also the Ambedkar Mahaparinirvan Day in honor of BR Ambedkar. The police will be deployed for bandobast duty as it marks Ambedkar's death anniversary during which millions of his followers descend at Shivaji Park.
As per reports, MCA will be requesting police provide at least 20% of police security as they are hoping to manage the rest through private security agencies. However, if the MCA does not get a favourable response from the Mumbai Police they are likely to brief BCCI. MCA will take a final call on this matter after the senior officials meet top Mumbai cops.
"As police will be busy in maintaining law and order in the city on [December 6], they may not be able to give security cover to the game," police sources said.
Another MCA official said if nothing works out, then they will ask for a swap with the third T20I scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on December 11. Last year, due to administrative issues in the MCA, the BCCI had shifted the ODI against West Indies from Wankhede to the nearby Brabourne Stadium, which is managed by the Cricket Club of India.
According to a senior MCA official, around 1,000 police personnel are generally required for an international fixture. Therefore, it remains to be seen how things pan out. The Wankhede Stadium last hosted an international fixture in December 2017 against Sri Lanka.
