IND vs SA, Rajkot ODI: Patidars won't be able to block teams' route, says Rajkot Police Commissioner

Mumbai: Rajkot police is confidant of overturning Patidar’s plan of blocking the bus route of both, the Indian and South African teams on their way to the stadium on Sunday. This was revealed emphatically by Police Commissioner Mohan Jha.

Speaking exclusively over his mobile on the eve of the match, Police Commissioner Jha said, "They won't be able to do that. Whatever they have said is far from acting successfully on it. We are capable of handling any worst scenario."

"The match will be firmly held and played. We have enough force to ensure smooth end of the match on Sunday," the IPS officer said confidently.

Hardik Patel, the convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) had switched off his mobile on Saturday. "This is to avoid the trace of his whereabouts. He has been roaming in Junagardh and other areas in Saurashtra and directing people to join in the agitation," his colleague Ketan Patel said. Ketan was scheduled to reach Rajkot on Saturday evening. "Let the government stick to their job. We will do our work," he added.

In the meantime, security consultants attached with the visiting team are in constant touch with their national board Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the South Africa Cricketers' Association (SACA).

"SACA is liaising with CSA and its security consultants, NSA, to determine the threat level of this situation and the security plan in place to deal with it," Tony Irish, the chief of SACA said.

"NSA (Nicholls Steyn and Associates) security officers are with the team in Rajkot and dealing with the BCCI’s security officer and the local policing authorities on the security plans. They will be updating us on the situation," Irish, who is also the FICA chief, added.