Hours after reports came in that the 2024 Durand Cup group match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) and Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata was cancelled, reports came in that defending champions Mohun Bagan will play their quarter-final match at the JRD Tata Complex Stadium on August 23.

According to the Sports starJose Francisco Molina’s team – Mohun Bagan Super Giant – is expected to arrive in Jamshedpur on August 21, having qualified for the quarter-finals in Group A.

Their final group match – before the quarter-finals – against East Bengal was due to take place at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on August 18, but on Saturday the city police said that providing additional security measures for the crucial derby clash would be a major challenge.

After the game was cancelled, Mohun Bagan Super Giant now lead Group A with 7 points and +7 points goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded). They have won all two of their games and the third was cancelled.

Although it is almost confirmed that Jamshedpur could host the remaining matches of Kolkata, the official announcement is yet to be made.

Which team will Mohun Bagan play against?

Looking at the statistics, Mohun Bagan could face Punjab FC, who finished second in Group C, in the quarterfinals. The winner of the match would secure a place in the semifinals.

What was on the schedule?

According to the schedule for the 2024 Durand Cup, two quarterfinals were previously scheduled to be played in Kolkata, one at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur and the other at the SAI Stadium in Assam. Also, both the semifinals and the final were scheduled to be played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

But growing tensions in West Bengal over the rape and murder of a medical student at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata have given the venues for the Games a new twist.

It is also not certain whether the semi-finals and the final will be played in Kolkata or not.

The 2024 Durand Cup began on July 27 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, also known as the Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata. Provided that the situation in Kolkata normalizes, it is expected to conclude on August 31 with the final at the same venue.