DDCA confirms India-Afghanistan 1st T20I on 13 September; rules out BRICS adjournment

India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I will be played on September 13 at Arun Jaitley Stadium after DDCA confirmed the match will not be postponed.

The first T20 International between India and Afghanistan will take place as scheduled on Sunday, September 13, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) confirmed the decision on Thursday after discussions with the Delhi Traffic Police over arrangements linked to the BRICS Summit.

There had been uncertainty over the opening match earlier in the day, with the traffic authorities seeking a change to the schedule. However, the DDCA later made it clear that the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I would not be postponed.

“India–Afghanistan 1st T20I on 13 September at Arun Jaitley Stadium will go ahead as scheduled,” the association wrote on X.

“Following a meeting with Delhi Traffic Police, DDCA has been assured of all necessary support and arrangements. No postponement,” it added.

India–Afghanistan 1st T20I on 13 September at Arun Jaitley Stadium will go ahead as scheduled.

Following a meeting with Delhi Traffic Police, DDCA has been assured of all necessary support and arrangements.

No postponement.🏏🇮🇳🇦🇫

The confirmation means Sunday’s match will proceed according to the original schedule. The remaining two T20Is in the series are also set to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 15 and 17.

Afghanistan are the official hosts of the three-match T20I series, although all three matches are being staged in New Delhi. India will be led by Shreyas Iyer, while Ibrahim Zadran is Afghanistan’s captain.

The two sides last met in a bilateral T20I series in January 2024. India won that series 3-0. They also faced each other in a three-match ODI series in June 2026, which India won.

The first T20I between Afghanistan and India was in danger of being postponed by a day because of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

However, the Delhi District Cricket Association has clarified that the match will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday… https://t.co/HkT5cglsek

The scheduling issue arose because Delhi is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13 at Bharat Mandapam. The presence of foreign delegates, senior officials and VVIP movements has required extensive security and traffic planning across the capital.

In a letter dated September 9, the DCP Traffic (Central Range) highlighted the additional pressure on the Delhi Traffic Police during the summit.

“The Summit requires extensive traffic arrangements, including WIP/VIP route regulation, traffic diversions, route clearance and deployment of personnel for smooth and uninterrupted movement of foreign delegates and associated vehicles,” the letter said.

The traffic authorities also pointed to the expected attendance at the cricket match.

“The cricket match scheduled on 13.09.2026 is expected to attract approximately 25,000-35,000 spectators. Further, the entire Delhi Traffic Police would already be extensively deployed for BRICS-related traffic regulation, diversions, route clearance and VIP/VIP movements.”

With the match and the BRICS Summit falling on the same day, the traffic police had requested that the DDCA consider moving the game.

“In view of the international importance and priority of the BRICS Summit, DDCA is requested to kindly consider rescheduling/postponing the match scheduled on 13.09.2026 to any suitable date after completion of the Summit and related traffic arrangements.”

The subsequent meeting between the DDCA and Delhi Traffic Police resolved the issue. According to the DDCA, the association has received assurances that the required support and arrangements will be in place for Sunday’s match.

For fans travelling to the Arun Jaitley Stadium, traffic restrictions and diversions could still be in place because of the summit and the cricket crowd. Commuters heading towards the Kotla area may therefore need to account for additional traffic management on match day.

With the postponement ruled out, the focus now returns to the opening contest of the India vs Afghanistan T20I series on September 13.

The first T20I will be played on September 13, 2026, in New Delhi.

No. DDCA has confirmed that the match will go ahead as scheduled.