India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI: Hardik Patel detained outside Rajkot stadium

Quota champion, Hardik Patel, was on 18 October detained by the police for protesting outside the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) stadium in Rajkot moments before the third One-Day International (ODI) between India and South Africa began.

The 22-year-old Patel quota spearhead had earlier threatened to block the way of Indian and South African cricket teams to the Rajkot stadium. He also said that Patel community members will cordon off the SCA stadium in Khanderi village on outskirts of Rajkot city as tickets were allegedly not sold to his community members.

Police had made elaborate security arrangements after the threat by Hardik and decided to fortify the stadium and the city with large deployment to ensure smooth conduct of the match.

Three unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) were deployed and 90 CCTv cameras were also installed for security purposes.

"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," Hardik, convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), had said.

"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," Hardik added.

Hardik, who is agitating to get reservation for Patel community under Other backward Class (OBC) quota, accused the BJP of playing politics over the cricket match.

"The (BJP) Government was saying till now that the match should not be turned into an agitation venue, but now this government is itself playing politics over the match," he said.

"I request to declare the details of ticket selling, because we believe that SCA has given all the match tickets to the BJP people," he alleged.

Hardik, whose detention in August sparked violence in the state taking toll of 10 lives, has alleged that the BJP people will create chaos and harm cricketers, but they will blame it on Patel community.