KSCA Considers Alternate Venues as Chinnaswamy Stadium Remains Unavailable Due to Stampede Probe

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is actively scouting for alternative venues to host the upcoming Maharaja T20 tournament, as the M Chinnaswamy Stadium remains without police clearance in the aftermath of the tragic June 4 stampede that occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations.

Despite the tournament being scheduled from August 11 to 27, Bengaluru police have yet to grant permission for the event at the iconic Chinnaswamy venue. The delay stems from an ongoing CID investigation into the stampede, which claimed 11 lives and left more than 50 injured.

Anticipating operational challenges, the KSCA had announced on July 11 that the tournament would be played behind closed doors, with no spectators. However, with no official clearance forthcoming, the association is now considering backup venues — notably its own facility in Alur, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, and the Wadeyar Ground in Mysuru.

While the Alur ground is praised for its excellent drainage and infrastructure, it lacks floodlights and seating for spectators, posing logistical issues for broadcasters and franchises alike. In contrast, the Wadeyar Ground in Mysuru has hosted domestic fixtures in the past but may face challenges in scaling up for a franchise tournament on short notice.

In the meantime, Alur has been confirmed to host group-stage matches of the Maharani T20, the women's version of the tournament, beginning August 4. A proposal to hold the women’s final at Chinnaswamy now appears unlikely due to the same security concerns.

The uncertainty has prompted frustration from franchise owners, who have already invested in accommodation and logistics for teams, coaches, and support staff based on the assumption that the tournament would take place in central Bengaluru.

Adding to the complexity, Chinnaswamy Stadium is also a scheduled venue for the Women’s ODI World Cup, set to begin on September 30 with India playing Sri Lanka in the tournament opener. The stadium is slated to host one semi-final, the opening match, and two warm-up games, raising concerns about its readiness and security for large-scale events.

A government-appointed one-man commission has since declared the stadium "unsafe" for major gatherings, recommending that large-scale events be moved to venues with better infrastructure for crowd management.

In related developments, the Duleep Trophy, which marks the start of India’s domestic cricket calendar, will now be held entirely at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, after initial plans to host the final at Chinnaswamy were scrapped due to World Cup preparations.

With less than two weeks to go for the Maharaja T20, the KSCA now finds itself racing against time to finalize a safe, suitable, and broadcast-ready venue for the tournament while dealing with mounting pressure from stakeholders and franchises.