The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is in danger of losing its hosting rights for several key Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches. This comes after the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) failed to meet the August 10 deadline set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to get police clearance for hosting the games.
The stadium has been under scrutiny since the tragic stampede on June 4, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory parade, which led to the deaths of 11 people and injuries to more than 50 others. Following the incident, security concerns have grown, and police have not yet given permission for large-scale events at the venue, putting the scheduled Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches at serious risk.
The alternative venue being considered is the Greenfields Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. If Chinnaswamy fails to secure clearance soon, these important Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches may be moved there.
Matches at Risk and Possible Venue Change
Bengaluru is currently scheduled to host the opening match of the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches between India and Sri Lanka on September 30. Other matches lined up include England vs South Africa on October 3, India vs Bangladesh on October 26, the second semi-final on October 30, and possibly the grand final on November 2.
However, Greenfields Stadium is already set to host the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) from August 21 to September 7. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has reportedly prepared a back-up plan to shift the KCL to another venue if they are asked to host the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches instead.
According to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, a stadium must be handed over to the tournament organisers at least a month before the event begins. This means the BCCI and ICC will have to make a decision within the next week. The urgency is also due to Greenfields being a possible venue for World Cup warm-up matches scheduled for September 25 and 27, which could impact the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches schedule.
The ICC marked the 50-day countdown to the tournament with an event in Mumbai recently, but as of Monday, the Bengaluru police commissioner’s office confirmed that the KSCA had still not obtained the necessary clearance for Chinnaswamy Stadium, further clouding the fate of the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches in the city.
ALSO SEE:
KSCA’s Efforts and Ongoing Challenges
The KSCA is currently holding its T20 tournament, the Maharaja Trophy, in Mysuru instead of Bengaluru because of the same police permission issues. Even offers to play these matches without spectators did not convince the authorities to grant approval, creating a worrying precedent for the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches.
As a final push, the KSCA is now exploring the idea of hosting the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium with a reduced seating capacity. But it’s unclear if the BCCI will agree to this, especially since the venue is also supposed to host the final if Pakistan fails to qualify for it.
The problems for KSCA began on June 4, when a huge crowd gathered for RCB’s victory parade after their IPL 2025 win. The lack of proper crowd control led to a deadly stampede outside the stadium. The tragedy forced the resignation of KSCA secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam, who stepped down citing moral responsibility.
Last month, a government-appointed committee investigating the incident declared Chinnaswamy Stadium “unsafe” for large-scale events. The report strongly recommended that major gatherings be moved to venues better equipped to handle big crowds, which could directly affect the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches planned there.
The uncertainty over Chinnaswamy’s status is also affecting several teams’ plans. Many had hoped to be based in Bengaluru during the tournament to take advantage of the city’s practice facilities, including the KSCA ground in Alur on the outskirts of the city. If the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches are moved, these teams may need to change their training schedules as well.
For now, the KSCA is racing against time to meet safety requirements and convince authorities to give the green light. But with the ICC deadline approaching fast, the future of the Women’s World Cup 2025 Matches in Bengaluru remains in serious doubt.
SEE MORE:
