Hyderabad to host first T20I against WI, 3rd match in Mumbai: BCCI

BCCI on Wednesday anunced swapping of venues of India's first and third T20 Internationals against West Indies with opening match w scheduled at Hyderabad on December 6. As reported by PTI last week, Mumbai will host third and final T20 International on December 11. second T20I will be held as per earlier schedule in Thiruvananthpuram on December 8.

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 original schedule

As per original schedule, Mumbai was supposed to host series opener against West Indies while Hyderabad was venue for third T20 International.

" 1st Paytm T20I between India and West Indies, which was scheduled to be played in Mumbai on 6th of December, 2019 has w been shifted to Hyderabad. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will w play host to T20I series opener between two teams," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

" Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host 3rd T20I between India & West Indies on 11th December 2019," statement added. rest of schedule for West Indies series remained unchanged.

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Why was decision to swap venues taken?

decision to swap venues was taken after Mumbai Police had expressed its inability to provide security as city would be on a high alert on December 6, anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition and also "Mahaparinirvan Din" of B R Ambedkar. On that day, lakhs of Ambedkar followers throng Chaityabhumi, his memorial at Dadar in Mumbai. last time Mumbai hosted an international match was against Sri Lanka, a T20I in December 2017.

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