2nd T20I: Match delayed by 3 hours in absence of team kits, CWI has no answers
St Kitts, Aug 1: In an unprecedented situation, the second T20 International between India and West Indies has been pushed back by three hours due to a delay in the arrival of team luggage, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Monday.
Initially, it was delayed by two hours but the CWI later confirmed that the game had to be pushed back further. There was, however, no explanation for the inordinate delay.
It has happened despite a two-day gap between the first and second game.
"Due to circumstances beyond CWI's control, there have been significant delays in crucial team luggage arriving into St Kitts from Trinidad. As a result, today's match 2nd Goldmedal T20 Cup match is due to start at 12.30 pm (10 PM India time)," the CWI said in a statement.
Normally, between the Caribbean nations small ATR flights operate, and hence, unlike normal commercial airlines, which also carries the heavy duty cricket coffins of the players, these aircrafts do not have the same capacity.
The delays in transporting kits from one nation (Trinidad & Tobago) to another (St Kitts & Nevis) is pretty normal in the Caribbean, but a match being delayed because of this is a first for the CWI.
"We do not know why the kits haven't arrived as we don't have an official reason for it," a CWI spokesperson told PTI.
The match is scheduled to be played at the Warner Park.
India lead the five-match series 1-0 following their 68-run win in the opener at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
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Four arrested for pre-Christmas vandalism in Assam school
Guwahati (PTI): Four people associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal were arrested for vandalising decorative items used for Christmas celebrations at a school and damaging festive articles in shops in Assam’s Nalbari district, police said.
The arrests were made on Thursday, a senior officer said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the police personnel for their prompt action and asserted that his government was committed to "maintaining peace, communal harmony, and ensuring the safety of all institutions and citizens across the state".
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The incident took place on Wednesday when the accused allegedly entered St Mary’s School in Panigaon village under the Belsor police station limits and burnt and damaged decorative items meant for Christmas celebrations.
"Miscreants who vandalised the school have been arrested. They entered the premises unlawfully," the officer said.
He added that the accused vandalised outer decorations, lights, plant pots, and other articles, as well as set some items on fire, resulting in loss of property.
"In connection with the vandalism at St. Mary’s English School, Panigaon, under Belsor Police Station, Nalbari district, the miscreants involved have been arrested. Assam Police acted promptly, and further action will be taken strictly as per law. We are fully committed to maintaining peace, communal harmony, and ensuring the safety of all institutions and citizens across the state," the CM said on X.
"A case has been registered at Belsor police station. Further investigation is going on. We are trying to identify some more people who were involved," the officer said.
The arrested persons are VHP Nalbari district secretary Bhaskar Deka, parishad's district vice-president Manash Jyoti Patgiri and assistant secretary Biju Dutta, along with Bajrang Dal's district convenor Nayan Talukdar, he added.
They had raised 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans and warned the school authorities not to organise Christmas celebrations on the school premises on Thursday, the officer said.
The accused also went to various shops selling Christmas goods in Nalbari town and set fire to some items near the Jain Mandir.
They also entered several shopping malls and business establishments selling Christmas items and burnt the goods, he added.
