BCCI Establishes New Committee for Safer IPL Celebrations
BCCI's Initiative for Safer Celebrations
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has established a new committee tasked with creating guidelines for post-IPL title celebrations. This decision follows a tragic incident in June in Bengaluru, where a massive crowd surged outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's inaugural IPL victory, resulting in a stampede that claimed eleven lives and left many injured. This event raised significant concerns regarding safety measures and crowd management at large sporting events.
During its recent Apex Council meeting, the BCCI announced the formation of a three-member team responsible for drafting clear protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Devajit Saikia, the board's secretary, will lead the committee, which also includes vice-president Rajeev Shukla and treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia. The committee has a deadline of 15 days to finalize the guidelines, which will be applicable to all future IPL celebrations across the country. The BCCI aims to ensure that fans can celebrate in a safe environment without risking their safety or causing disorder.
“In light of the incident that occurred during the victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Apex Council has decided to constitute a committee to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such occurrences in the future.”
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— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2025
BCCI convened its 28th Apex Council Meeting on Saturday and made the following key decisions 👇
🔹 A committee to be constituted to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing occurrences similar to the victory celebrations in Bengaluru. The committee will… pic.twitter.com/FXEqMO5gU4
Swift Action Following the Bengaluru Tragedy
The unfortunate event on June 4 occurred after Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first title win, attracting an estimated 200,000 fans to the vicinity of the stadium, far exceeding its capacity and disregarding police warnings. Although there were plans for a celebratory parade from Vidhana Soudha, it was ultimately canceled. Fans, however, surged into the area, leading to a dangerous crush. The celebration proceeded without the necessary clearances and ignored safety protocols.
In response, the Karnataka state government and local authorities demanded accountability from both the franchise and the BCCI. Following the incident, RCB's marketing head and two officials from the event management company DNA Entertainment were arrested. Additionally, the secretary and treasurer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association resigned in the aftermath of the tragedy. The state urged the BCCI to take responsibility for the inadequate planning and crowd control.
The newly established committee is expected to present its recommendations within two weeks, with the BCCI planning to implement these guidelines to prevent future incidents during post-victory celebrations.