The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is at risk of losing its Women's ODI World Cup matches due to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) failing to obtain the necessary police clearances. The deadline to secure these approvals, set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was August 10.

The Reason for Uncertainty

The primary reason for the denial of police clearance stems from a tragic stampede that occurred on June 4, 2025, near the stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) victory parade. The stampede resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries.

In the aftermath, the Karnataka government appointed a committee led by Justice John Michael D'Cunha to investigate the incident. The committee's report deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium "unsafe" for large-scale events, citing design flaws, inadequate entry and exit points, poor crowd management infrastructure, insufficient public transport access, and minimal parking space. The report warned that hosting large events at the stadium posed "unacceptable risks" to public safety.

KSCA's Efforts and Challenges

The KSCA has faced considerable challenges in the wake of the stampede and the subsequent safety concerns. They had to move the Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament to Mysuru after failing to obtain police permission for matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, even after proposing to hold them behind closed doors.

In a last-ditch effort to gain approval for the World Cup matches, the KSCA reportedly considered hosting matches with reduced stadium capacity or even behind closed doors. However, it remains uncertain whether the BCCI would endorse such a proposal.

KSCA secretary A. Shankar and treasurer E.S. Jairam resigned, accepting moral responsibility for the stampede.

Alternative Venue

With the Chinnaswamy Stadium's status in doubt, the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as the leading alternative to host the Women's World Cup matches. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has reportedly been approached about hosting the matches and has contingency plans to relocate the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) matches if necessary.

KCA president K Jayesh confirmed discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and assured them that Thiruvananthapuram is ready to host the matches with the necessary infrastructure.

Impact on the Women's World Cup

The Chinnaswamy Stadium was originally scheduled to host four matches in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025, with the possibility of a fifth, including the opening match between India and Sri Lanka on September 30. Other scheduled matches include England vs. South Africa (October 3), India vs. Bangladesh (October 26), the second semi-final (October 30), and potentially the final on November 2. The city was also slated to host two warm-up matches on September 25 and 27, featuring India against England and New Zealand.

According to ICC guidelines, a venue must be handed over to tournament organizers at least one month before the start of the event. With the tournament commencing on September 30, the BCCI and ICC are expected to make a final decision within a week.

Broader Implications

The uncertainty surrounding the Chinnaswamy Stadium has broader implications for cricket in Karnataka. The state government's tough stance has cast doubt over the city's future as a venue for major events, including the T20 World Cup scheduled for early next year and the IPL. Royal Challengers Bengaluru now faces the real possibility of losing their home turf for IPL 2026. If safety clearance isn't granted in time, the franchise may be forced to play “home” matches in another city.

The situation also threatens to disrupt the preparations of several teams planning to be based in Bengaluru ahead of the tournament, who were intending to train at multiple practice facilities, including the KSCA complex in Alur.