Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium Faces Uncertainty for Women's World Cup Matches
Concerns Over Women's World Cup Fixtures in Bengaluru
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is at risk of losing its scheduled Women's World Cup matches due to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) failing to secure police clearance by the August 10 deadline set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), according to reports from a sports news outlet.
If Bengaluru is unable to host the matches, the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is being considered as an alternative venue.
Currently, Bengaluru is slated to kick off the tournament with a match between India and Sri Lanka on September 30, followed by other key matches including England vs South Africa on October 3, India vs Bangladesh on October 26, the second semi-final on October 30, and potentially the final on November 2.
However, the Greenfield Stadium is already booked for the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) from August 21 to September 7. Officials from the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have mentioned that they are prepared to relocate the KCL if necessary to accommodate the World Cup fixtures.
According to ICC regulations, venues must be handed over to the organizers at least one month prior to the tournament. This means that a decision from the BCCI and ICC is expected within the week, especially since Thiruvananthapuram is also set to host World Cup warm-up matches on September 25 and 27.
The police commissioner's office confirmed that as of Monday, the KSCA had not yet received the necessary permissions for the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This announcement coincided with the ICC's 50-day countdown to the tournament in Mumbai.
Currently, the KSCA is managing the Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament in Mysore after relocating matches from Chinnaswamy due to the absence of police clearance, despite their willingness to hold games without spectators.
As a last resort, the KSCA is considering hosting the World Cup matches at the stadium with a limited number of spectators. It remains unclear whether the BCCI will approve such a plan, especially since the stadium is also designated to host the final if Pakistan does not qualify.
The KSCA's challenges began on June 4, following a tragic stampede near the stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL 2025 victory parade, which resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries. In the aftermath, KSCA secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam resigned, citing moral accountability.
A committee appointed by the state government later deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium 'unsafe' for large gatherings, recommending that major events be moved to venues better equipped for large crowds.
This ongoing uncertainty has disrupted the plans of various teams, many of whom intended to train in Bengaluru, utilizing multiple practice facilities, including the KSCA's ground in Alur, in preparation for the tournament.