Bengaluru, Aug 12: The M Chinnaswamy Stadium's role as a host venue for the upcoming Women's World Cup is in jeopardy after the Karnataka State Cricket
Association (KSCA) failed to secure mandatory police approvals by the August 10 deadline set by the BCCI.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the delay stems from safety concerns following the tragic stampede on June 4 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations, which claimed 11 lives and injured more than 50 people.
Bengaluru is currently slated to host several high-profile fixtures, including the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka on September 30, matches between England and South Africa (October 3), India and Bangladesh (October 26), the second semi-final on October 30, and potentially the final on November 2. However, the Greenfields Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is being considered as an alternative venue should approvals not be granted in time.
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) is preparing for the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) from August 21 to September 7 but reportedly has a contingency plan to shift the league if required to host World Cup matches. The ICC's guidelines require venues to be handed over to organisers a month before the tournament, meaning a decision will likely be made within the next week.
The KSCA is already hosting its Maharaja Trophy T20 competition in Mysore after police permissions for Chinnaswamy were denied, even for matches behind closed doors. As per the report, the association is now considering a reduced-capacity proposal for the World Cup, though BCCI approval remains uncertain-particularly as the stadium is also lined up for the final if Pakistan fails to qualify.
A state government-appointed probe committee recently declared the Chinnaswamy Stadium "unsafe" for large-scale events and strongly recommended shifting such gatherings to more suitable venues. This uncertainty is not only affecting match scheduling but also the training plans of several teams that intended to base themselves in Bengaluru ahead of the tournament.
If approvals are not secured soon, the Women's World Cup fixture list could see significant last-minute changes, impacting players, organisers, and fans alike.
