Kolkata Knight Riders' Match Against Mumbai Indians on May 14 Shifted to Cuttack
The Kolkata Police said it would be difficult to provide security for the match slotted two days after the last and Kolkata phase of the Lok Sabha polls and two days prior to the counting which will be held at the adjoining Netaji Indoor Stadium.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: May 09, 2014 08:26 AM IST
Kolkata Knight Riders' first home match in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League versus defending champions Mumbai Indians on May 14 has been shifted to Cuttack due to the inability of the police authorities to deploy adequate force for the match ahead of the election results on May 16. (Gambir, Uthappa script Kolkata's victory over Delhi)
The Kolkata Police said it would be difficult to provide security for the match slotted two days after the last and Kolkata phase of the Lok Sabha polls and two days prior to the counting which will be held at the adjoining Netaji Indoor Stadium.
"We tried our best but the Commissioner of Police said the security forces would be insufficient as they would be busy with Lok Sabha polls," CAB joint secretary Subir Ganguly said.
Late in the evening, Odisha Cricket Association secretary Asirbad Behera issued a press release confirming that the match had indeed been shifted to Cuttack.
With this KKR will get to play only three matches (on May 20, 22 and 24) at their home ground in season seven.
There's a possibility of repolling on May 14 if any untoward incident takes place in the last leg of elections while the Netaji Indoor Stadium surrounding areas will be under CrPC section 144 as the EVMs will be kept there.
"The police are not able to take any chances. We have informed this to the IPL CEO Sundar Raman and they will take the decision for the alternative venue in due course," Ganguly added.