The BCCI swapped venues for the first and third T20Is of India's series against West Indies on Friday with the series now set to begin in Hyderabad on December 6 instead of Mumbai which will now host the final game five days later. 

The decision came as the Mumbai Police expressed its inability to provide security as the city would be on a high alert on December 6 because of the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition as well as the "Mahaparinirvan Din" of B R Ambedkar. Lakhs of Ambedkar followers throng the Chaityabhumi, his memorial in Dadar, on the occasion. 

And the board rightfully kept players' safety at the top of the priorities. 

"The BCCI has agreed to swap the dates of the Mumbai (December 6) and Hyderabad (December 11) games. We were able to carry out the swap after HCA president Mohammed Azharuddin agreed," a senior Mumbai Cricket Association official was quoted as saying by PTI on conditions of anonymity.

It is understood, the MCA was actually slated to lose the match in current circumstances until the newly elected HCA President and former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin stepped in for help. 

The MCA officials could then meet and apprise one of the top cops of the development. The association last hosted an international against Sri Lanka in December 2017. 

Even in 2018, when West Indies came in town, one of the games was due to be played at the Wankhede Stadium under MCA but that was later accorded to Brabourne Stadium, managed by the Cricket Club of India, due to administrative issues. 

(Inputs from PTI)