With India's tour of Ireland just two weeks away, the BCCI is reportedly on high alert over the recent anti-immigrant unrest in Belfast. According to Dainik Jagran, the board is closely tracking the security situation and is prepared to talk with Cricket Ireland about moving the matches out of the city if things don't settle down.
The two T20Is are locked in for June 26 and 28 at Belfast's Stormont Cricket Ground. For now, the BCCI is leaning on Cricket Ireland’s safety assessment but remains completely open to changing venues to guarantee the team's safety.
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What led Belfast in unrest situation?
The riots started in Belfast, when one of the inhabitants was attacked with a knife and sustained serious injuries, which led to protests against immigrants.
Some areas were transformed into the scenes of battles where burned cars, broken store windows, and public property could be seen. There was a police crackdown to stop the riots, and while some arrests took place, there were several cases of injured policemen who had been battling against the rioters for many days.
How it impacted on cricket?
Unrest has already begun affecting the game in the region. The Inter-Provincial T20 Festival, which is due to take place in Lisburn, has been cancelled, while there are 48 hours left to decide whether the matches of the domestic cup to be held on Sunday, June 14, are able to take place or not.
A statement was released from the Irish cricket board indicating that they are working non-stop with the relevant regional authorities and provincial unions in order to identify the trouble spots. The board emphasized that the safety of everyone involved in the matches comes first.
The upcoming T20Is are already generating massive hype, set to kick off Shreyas Iyer's chapter as India's new T20I captain. The series could also give fans exactly what they've been waiting for: the senior international debut of teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
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FAQs
Q1: Where are the two scheduled T20I matches between India and Ireland currently set to be played?
Ans: The matches are locked in for June 26 and 28 at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast.
Q2: Who is set to lead the Indian team as the new T20I captain during this tour?
Ans: Shreyas Iyer is scheduled to begin his chapter as India's new T20I captain during the series.
