Bengaluru’s cricket ground, as one of the host cities for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, is now uncertain. The city was expected to host four important matches, including the opening game between India and Sri Lanka on September 30, and one of the two semi-finals. However, the final decision on hosting the matches is still pending because the Karnataka State Cricket Association has not received clearance from the state government.
The delay in approval is mainly due to a tragic incident that occurred in June this year. During a celebration parade for the RCB after their IPL title win, a stampede broke out, resulting in 11 deaths. The matter is still under legal review, and since then, the state government has been cautious about allowing large public events at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA officials have stated that they are in communication with the state authorities and are waiting for a response. They clarified that there has been no official denial yet, but also no confirmation. As a result, there is uncertainty surrounding the matches planned in Bengaluru.
Which matches are at Risk?
Besides the opening match(India vs Sri Lanka), the stadium is also scheduled to host:
- England vs South Africa on October 3
- India vs Bangladesh on October 26
- One semifinal on October 30
- The final on November 2, if Pakistan does not qualify
The KSCA has already moved its domestic T20 competition, the Maharaja Cup, from Bengaluru to Mysuru due to the same lack of permission. This further adds to the concern that the World Cup matches might also be relocated if approval does not come in time.
Other confirmed venues for the eight-team tournament include Visakhapatnam, Guwahati, Indore, and Colombo. The tournament featured 31 matches in total, including 28 league games, two semi-finals, and the final. The participating teams are India, Sri Lanka, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Officials from the BCCI and ICC are closely watching the situation and are prepared to consider alternate venues if necessary. A final call on Bengaluru’s status as a historic city is expected soon, depending on the state government’s decision.
