The Karnataka Cabinet Thursday granted conditional approval for the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to host Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where a stampede during RCB’s victory parade following their maiden IPL title win had claimed the lives of 11 people on June 4.
The KSCA, however, can only host matches if it fully implements the recommendations of the Justice Michael Cunha Commission – formed to probe the stampede – and complies with the 17-point standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by local authorities based on investigation findings, said sources.
The stampede had highlighted severe infrastructure deficiencies at the stadium located at the centre of the city. Following the incident, both the state government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revoked all permissions for hosting matches there, including cancelling the Women’s World Cup fixtures earlier this year. The Cabinet decision is expected to pave the way for the KSCA to host the next edition of IPL.
On Wednesday, newly elected KSCA president and former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, urging the reinstatement of match-hosting rights at the stadium. Prasad took charge after winning the KSCA elections on December 7.
Previously, the state police department had identified 17 essential requirements that must be fulfilled before the venue can be reassessed and cleared for international matches.
The Commission, in its report, highlighted the need for improved parking arrangements, dedicated spectator routes, designated disaster-management zones, installation of bag scanners at all gates, police verification of all in-stadium stakeholders, a real-time crowd-flow monitoring system, permanent medical facilities, and audits of fire extinguishers, electrical equipment, and player access points.
The stampede had caused a major embarrassment to the state government. Top city police officers, including then Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda, were sacked soon after the incident.