ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Bengaluru Matches in Serious Doubt
The countdown to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has begun, with the tournament starting on September 30 and being jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. While India remains the primary host, all matches involving the Pakistan Women’s Team will be played in Colombo, following an agreement between the BCCI and the PCB.
In India, games will be staged across four venues — Bengaluru, Vizag, Indore, and Guwahati — with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru awarded four fixtures, including a semi-final and potentially the final. However, the final, scheduled for November 2, will only take place in Bengaluru if Pakistan fail to qualify. Should Pakistan make it to the title clash, the venue will shift to Colombo.
This arrangement has sparked uncertainty over Bengaluru’s role in the knockout stages, raising questions about whether the city will get to host the tournament’s biggest match.
ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Bengaluru Matches in Jeopardy After RCB Celebration Tragedy
Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium was originally set to be one of the prime venues for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, with four matches scheduled, including a semi-final and potentially the final. However, fresh reports suggest the city might lose its hosting rights entirely.
According to Cricbuzz, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has yet to obtain the necessary clearance from the state government to host World Cup matches. The hesitation stems from the tragic RCB IPL 2025 victory celebration stampede, which claimed 11 lives earlier this year.
Following the incident, the KSCA has faced intense scrutiny over crowd management and safety measures. As a result, they have already relocated the Maharaja Cup T20 tournament from Bengaluru to Mysuru, signalling a cautious approach toward hosting large-scale events at the venue.
If permissions are not granted soon, matches, including high-profile knockout fixtures, could be moved to other cities — dealing a major blow to Bengaluru’s cricket fans. This uncertainty also raises the possibility that the city might miss out on hosting the final, which was earlier scheduled for November 2.
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KSCA Still Awaiting Government Nod
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is still waiting for formal clearance from the state government to host matches. A senior KSCA official confirmed the challenge, stating:
“The uncertainty is in view of the tragic stampede in June when 11 fans died as Royal Challengers Bengaluru were celebrating their IPL success. The matter has since gone to the courts, and the state government has not yet given permission for the matches. We’ve written to the State Government and are awaiting a response. There is still time, and we’re going step by step.”
The KSCA has already shifted the Maharaja Cup T20 from Bengaluru to Mysuru, citing safety concerns, but hopes remain that a green signal will arrive in time for the World Cup.
Bengaluru’s Scheduled Matches
As per the original schedule, M Chinnaswamy Stadium was slated to host:
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Tournament opener: India vs Sri Lanka – September 30
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England vs South Africa – October 4
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India vs Bangladesh – October 26 (final league match)
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Second Semi-final – October 30
The November 2 final was also to be held here, but only if Pakistan failed to qualify — otherwise, it would shift to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as per a BCCI–PCB agreement.
Potential Blow to BCCI and ICC
If the state government denies clearance, these matches will have to be relocated, causing a major logistical headache for the BCCI and the ICC. Bengaluru fans would also face the disappointment of missing out on top-tier World Cup action, including a possible final on home soil.
With time still left before the tournament, all eyes are now on the Karnataka government’s decision — one that could shape the course of the Women’s World Cup in India.
