Potential Venue Change for ICC Women’s World Cup Matches Amid Safety Concerns
Concerns Over Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 14: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering relocating the ICC Women’s World Cup matches originally scheduled at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. This decision follows a tragic stampede that occurred during celebrations after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title, according to sources.
Sources indicate that a final decision regarding the venue could be made this weekend.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is at risk of losing the Women’s World Cup fixtures due to missing the August 10 deadline set by the BCCI for obtaining police clearance to host the matches, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
If Bengaluru is deemed unsuitable, the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is being considered as a potential alternative.
Currently, Bengaluru is scheduled to host the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka on September 30, followed by matches including England vs South Africa on October 3, India vs Bangladesh on October 26, the second semi-final on October 30, and possibly the final on November 2. The tournament is set to commence on September 30.
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 stated they have a backup plan to relocate the KCL if the World Cup matches are moved there.
According to ICC regulations, venues must be handed over to the organizers at least one month prior to the tournament. This means that the BCCI and ICC need to reach a decision within the next 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 received the necessary permissions for the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This announcement coincided with the ICC marking the 50-day countdown to the tournament in Mumbai. The KSCA's failure to secure police clearance has put the Women’s World Cup fixtures in jeopardy.
Currently, the KSCA is hosting the Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament in Mysore after relocating matches from Chinnaswamy due to the lack of police clearance, despite their offer to hold games without spectators.
As a last resort, the KSCA is considering the option of hosting the World Cup matches at the stadium with a reduced capacity for spectators. It remains uncertain 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, when a tragic stampede near the stadium during RCB's IPL 2025 victory parade resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries.
In the aftermath of this incident, KSCA secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam resigned, citing moral responsibility. A committee appointed by the state government later deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium "unsafe" for large gatherings and recommended relocating major events to venues better equipped for large crowds.
This uncertainty has also disrupted the plans of several teams, many of whom intended to base themselves in Bengaluru to utilize various practice facilities, including the KSCA’s ground in Alur, ahead of the tournament.