Patidar agitation leader, Hardik Patel on Friday threatened to block the way of Indian and South African cricket teams to the Rajkot stadium on the match day where the third ODI (one-day international) match of the Gandhi-Mandela series will be played on October 18. Mr. Patel, who is agitating to get the reservation for Patel community under other backward Class (OBC) quota, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing politics over the cricket match.

In a video message, shared on social media, Hardik alleged ‘irregularities’ in the sale of tickets by the cricket association for the ODI match to be played on SCA Stadium in Khanderi village, on the outskirts of the city this Sunday. He alleged that the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) had sold tickets to BJP workers, who will protest during the match and then blame it on his community.

“I request them to declare the details of tickets sold because we believe that SCA has given all the match tickets to the BJP people. They will create trouble during the match and later blame it on Patidars,” Hardik said in the video.

His allegations came hours after SCA closed its ticket windows at the Madhavrao Scindia Ground in Race Course on Friday afternoon. The SCA said that all the tickets had been sold. This irked cricket fans, who were standing in a queue. They vented their anger by damaging barricades and hoardings.

Convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), Hardik said, “Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) should clarify on why they declared that all tickets are sold in spite of the fact that many tickets yet remain unsold.” “PAAS will block the way of both the teams (of India and South Africa) to the stadium (on the match day) and we will also cordon the entire stadium,” Mr. Patel added.

Incidentally, Hardik and other leaders of the agitation have repeatedly announced that they will use the ODI match between India and South Africa as a platform to send a message across the world about their stir by protesting during the match from stands. But it is for the first time that Hardik  has threatened to disrupt the match.

SCA, on the advice of police, have made it mandatory for cricket fans to furnish an ID proof to get a ticket for the match. Police have made elaborate security arrangements after the threat by Mr Patel and has decided to fortify the stadium. Both the cricket teams of India and South Africa landed in Rajkot on Thursday afternoon. They remained in hotel rooms on Friday but are scheduled to practice on Saturday.