After Bengaluru Stampede Incident – KSCA Faces Venue Uncertainty For Maharaja T20 Amid Police Clearance Delay News24 –

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is still waiting to get the required clearance from the Bengaluru police to organize the forthcoming Maharaja T20 tournament at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. From August 11 to 27, the state’s top franchise-based T20 league now hangs precariously in the balance regarding its venue.

The police sanction has been delayed due to the tragic stampede that took place on June 4 outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrated their IPL title. It resulted in the death of 11 individuals and injured more than 50. The state police’s crime branch is conducting an investigation, and the stadium continues to be scrutinized.

The KSCA, in preparation for the possibility of hurdles, had on July 11 declared that the tournament would be played in closed-door mode. With entry into the Chinnaswamy still uncertain, the association is now considering other grounds. On the agenda are the KSCA’s own ground in Alur at the city limits and the Wadeyar Stadium in Mysuru.

Although Alur has good infrastructure and good drainage, it is not equipped with floodlights and good spectator seating considerations that may affect the broadcast popularity and viewership of the tournament. Even with these constraints, Alur is already scheduled to stage the group-stage games of the Maharani T20, which is a six-day women’s tournament from August 4.

The KSCA had initially envisioned staging the women’s final at Chinnaswamy but that seems now out of the question with the ongoing probe and lack of police sanction.

Franchises, however, have shown increasing irritation, particularly after organizing logistical support on the basis of the tournament presumably being held in central Bengaluru. Some teams have already booked hotels for players and personnel, which may result in financial losses if the destination is shifted at the last moment.

The scenario has landed the KSCA in a tricky spot, especially with Chinnaswamy’s involvement in future big games. The stadium will have the opening game of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup on September 30 when India will play Sri Lanka. It will also feature one of the semi-finals and hopefully the final, as well as a couple of warm-up matches preceding the tournament.

A single-member government-constituted inquiry committee recently found the Chinnaswamy Stadium “unsafe” for holding mass gatherings of people. The committee vociferously suggested relocating major events to stadiums that are better geared to handle large crowds.

Also, the BCCI has decided to host the entire Duleep Trophy – India’s domestic season opener at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The final was originally scheduled for Chinnaswamy but has now been shifted as a result of World Cup preparations.

With only days to spare for the Maharani T20 to begin and the Maharaja T20 to follow hot on its heels, the KSCA is in a race against time trying to get out of the venue hurdle and see both tournaments run smoothly.