Bengaluru, Aug 8 (UNI) The fate of Bengaluru’s Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 matches hangs in the balance as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) awaits State Government clearance amid heightened security concerns following the June IPL victory parade stampede that left 11 dead.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are on alert over possible disruptions to the tournament schedule, with the opening match between India and Sri Lanka on September 30 and three other fixtures, including the second semifinal on October 30, allocated to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue is also scheduled to host the November 2 final, provided Pakistan do not qualify.
Following the June tragedy, the State Government has tightened scrutiny of large public gatherings. The KSCA has yet to receive formal approval to stage World Cup games, with the matter still under judicial review.
As a precaution, the Maharaja Cup T20 tournament has been shifted from Bengaluru to Mysuru. “We’ve written to the State Government and are awaiting a response. It’s not as if they’ve denied permission. We are going step by step,” a KSCA official said.
If clearance is refused, the matches could be moved to other approved venues, including Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, or Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
The Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 will be held from September 30 to November 2, featuring 31 matches – 28 league games and two semifinals – among India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
