As excitement builds for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over Bengaluru, originally a marquee venue for the tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are on tenterhooks, grappling with the possibility of last-minute disruptions to the World Cup schedule. The reason: the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is yet to secure official clearance from the State Government to host World Cup fixtures in the city.
Bengaluru’s iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium is pencilled in to open the tournament on September 30, featuring a high-profile clash between joint hosts India and Sri Lanka, a potential blockbuster to commence the World Cup. The city was also set to play host to three additional matches, including a crucial semifinal. However, the fate of these matches hangs in the balance as permissions remain pending.
The hesitancy stems from the tragic events of June, when an 11-person stampede marred celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League triumph. The tragedy shocked the cricketing fraternity and prompted calls for a thorough review of crowd management and event safety protocols. With legal proceedings underway and public sensitivities high, the State Government has adopted a cautious approach to sanctioning major cricket events in the aftermath.
“We’ve written to the State Government and are awaiting a response. It’s not as if they’ve denied permission. If that were the policy, they wouldn’t have allowed the Maharaja Cup in Mysuru. So, we’re waiting,” explained a KSCA official on Thursday. “There is some more time for this, and we’re going step by step.”
This wait-and-watch stance has already led to the relocation of the Maharaja Cup T20 tournament from Bengaluru to Mysuru, a move that has heightened worries regarding further disruptions. For women’s cricket, after a landmark year of growth and recognition, the uncertainty is a setback, especially as home fans eagerly anticipated the return of world-class cricket to Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Apart from the tournament opener, the venue is expected to host England versus South Africa (October 3), India versus Bangladesh (October 26), and a critical semifinal on October 30. The other four venues, ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Holkar Stadium in Indore, ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, and Sri Lanka’s R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, reportedly face no such obstacles.
This edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup runs from September 30 to November 2, showcasing eight world-class teams: Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and co-hosts India and Sri Lanka. Thirty-one matches are scheduled, featuring twenty-eight riveting league games culminating in two semifinals and the grand finale.
For now, plans are moving slowly, as organisers, athletes, and fans alike hope Bengaluru’s World Cup prospects are not dimmed by the shadow of recent tragedy. As the countdown to cricket’s biggest event in the women’s calendar continues, the city and the tournament wait with bated breath for a timely resolution.
(Quotes sourced from Cricbuzz)
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