Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) home game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 6 is set to be relocated to Guwahati due to security concerns arising from Ram Navami celebrations in Kolkata. Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehasish Ganguly confirmed the development, stating that the Kolkata Police has expressed its inability to provide adequate security for the match.
Ram Navami impact scheduling
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari announced that over 20,000 processions are being organized across West Bengal for the festival, making it difficult for security personnel to be deployed at Eden Gardens. “We have informed the BCCI to reschedule the match, but there is no scope for doing so in Kolkata later. I’m now hearing that it’s going to be shifted to Guwahati,” Ganguly told PTI.
This isn’t the first time that a KKR fixture has been affected by Ram Navami celebrations. In IPL 2024, KKR’s match against Rajasthan Royals had to be rescheduled due to similar security concerns. Ganguly revealed that despite multiple discussions with Kolkata Police, no viable solution was reached.
While an official statement from the IPL governing body is yet to be released, the shift in venue could be a disappointment for KKR fans in Kolkata, who were expecting a full house at Eden Gardens.
(With PTI inputs)