NEW DELHI: The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cancelled their Tuesday's practice session in Ahmedabad due to an intense heat wave, not because of any security threat, according to Gujarat Cricket Association. As they prepare for the crucial IPL Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals scheduled for Wednesday. The extreme temperatures in Ahmedabad led the
RCB team management to prioritise the players' health over practice.
"There was no terror threat. We had made provision for both the Rajasthan Royals and RCB to practice at the Gujarat College ground. RCB were supposed to practice from 2 to 5pm, before they changed it to 3-6pm, as the light is good till 6.30pm in the summer in Ahmedabad. However, while the Rajasthan Royals practiced from 3.30 to 6.30pm at the Gujarat College ground with their full squad,
RCB skipped their practice session due to the prevailing heat wave in the city. We had told RCB that they can use the indoor practice facility there, or at the Indoor facility at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, RCB didn't want to practice because of the heatwave," Anil Patel, secretary, Gujarat Cricket Association, told TOI.
Earlier in the day, a startling report by Bengali daily 'Anandbazar Patrika' stated that Gujarat Police arrested four persons from the Ahmedabad airport on Monday night on suspicion of terror activities, which allegedly posed a threat to the security of RCB team and its star player
Virat Kohli ahead of their IPL Eliminator match.
Once the RCB camp received the above information, they decided to cancel their practice at the Gujarat College ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday and also did not go ahead with the press conference on the eve of the match. Rajasthan Royals, however, went ahead with their training as scheduled but cancelled their press conference as well.
The Gujarat College ground was the alternative practice venue for the two teams as the Narendra Modi Stadium hosted Qualifier 1 on Tuesday between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR won that match to enter the final.
The report also claimed that the police found the four arrested men in possession of arms as well as suspicious videos and text messages at their hideout.