The Bengaluru M Chinnaswamy Stadium is going to lose its privileges to host marquee matches of the Women’s World Cup 2025, as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) could not secure police approval by the deadline set by the BCCI, August 10, raising questions about ground availability.
The holdup is a result of increased security issues after the June 4 stampede claimed 11 lives during the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL win.
Greenfields Stadium Steps into the Vacuum
With doubt over the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Greenfields Stadium at Thiruvananthapuram is considered the backup. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) is currently slated to host the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) between August 21 and September 7. The KCA has a backup plan to relocate the KCL to a different stadium if necessary for the World Cup.
Scheduled Matches Under Threat in Bengaluru
Bengaluru is now scheduled to host several high-profile games, namely:
India vs Sri Lanka (Tournament curtain-raiser – September 30)
England vs South Africa (October 3)
India vs Bangladesh (October 26)
Second semi-final (October 30)
Final (November 2, pending Pakistan’s qualification)
If the approvals aren’t given promptly, these matches will be shifted elsewhere, affecting team travel and fan itineraries immensely.
ICC Guidelines and Urgent Decision Timeline
As per ICC guidelines, host locations have to be delivered to tournament organisers at least a month before the event. This implies that the BCCI and ICC have to make the call within this week on whether Bengaluru will get its matches. Thiruvananthapuram is also likely to host warm-up matches on September 25 and 27, putting further pressure on the timeline. Stampede Fallout and Safety Concerns
The stampede on June 4 outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium has thrown a long shadow over its ability to host. A formal government inquiry labeled the stadium “unsafe” for big-ticket events and suggested shifting such matches to arenas that have more effective crowd control facilities. The KSCA secretary and treasurer resigned shortly after the tragedy on grounds of moral responsibility.
KSCA’s Last-Ditch Proposal
To save its World Cup hosting rights, the KSCA is said to be considering the possibility of hosting the matches with lowered spectator capacity. But it is unclear if the BCCI would approve this, considering that the stadium is scheduled for the final if Pakistan fails to qualify.
Effect on Teams’ Training Plans
The uncertainty may also jeopardize training schedules for teams who planned to base themselves in Bengaluru. Training venues like KSCA’s Alur ground on the outskirts of the city could be left underused if the venue loses its status as a host.
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