A high-level committee in Bengaluru has officially denied permission to host a scheduled cricket match at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The decision, announced on Tuesday, December 23, comes after a detailed safety inspection of the venue.
Safety Review Leads to Match Cancellation
The committee, formed by Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara just a day earlier, was tasked with reviewing the feasibility of holding a match at the stadium. This was in response to a petition from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which sought permission to host a Vijay Hazare Trophy match without spectators on December 24.
Led by M Maheshwar Rao, Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), the panel included officials from the Fire and Emergency Services Department, Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company, Public Works Department, GBA, and the police. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, who was part of the committee, confirmed the rejection to reporters.
"As per the reports of the departments, the permission has not been granted for the match tomorrow. The Committee has given a detailed report. As of now, the permission is rejected," Singh stated.
Background: A Stadium Under Scrutiny
The scrutiny of Chinnaswamy Stadium's safety protocols is not without recent precedent. The last cricket match was held there in May this year. A tragic turn of events occurred on June 4, when a stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade at the stadium claimed the lives of 11 people.
Following that incident, International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's World Cup matches were relocated away from the venue. The Bengaluru City police had also previously issued a letter outlining 17 specific safety guidelines that needed to be followed for any matches to be conducted.
Conditional Approval and Unmet Norms
Earlier in December, the Karnataka Cabinet had granted conditional approval for the KSCA to organize matches. However, this approval was contingent upon the fulfillment of safety recommendations made by the Justice Michael D'Cunha Commission, which was likely formed to investigate the June stampede or related safety lapses.
The committee's site visit and subsequent report indicate that these conditions and safety norms have not been adequately met. The rejection underscores the ongoing safety concerns at one of India's premier cricket grounds and highlights the government's cautious approach in the wake of the past tragedy.
The decision leaves the KSCA's plans for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match in disarray and raises questions about when and under what conditions international or domestic cricket might return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
