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M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru hasn’t cleared for Maharaja T20 because of an investigation.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium was slated to host the Maharaja T20 (Picture credit: BCCI)
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru hasn’t received clearance to host the Maharaja T20 tournament, with the Karnataka State Cricket Association now searching for venues to play the tournament at, as Chinnaswamy has been mired in controversy for almost two months now, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo.
The Maharaja T20 is all set to take place from August 11 to 27 and the KSCA needs to find venues with 10 days in hand.
The police have withheld clearance because of the ongoing investigation into the June 4 stampede that occurred near the stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL winning celebrations.
An independent CID investigation into the incident, which left 11 dead and over 50 injured, is still underway.
Expecting possible obstacles, the Karnataka State Cricket Association announced on July 11 that the tournament would be held behind closed doors.
The KSCA is now exploring alternative venues, including its facility in Alur on the outskirts of Bengaluru, as well as the Wadeyar Ground in Mysuru.
Although Alur boasts excellent drainage and infrastructure, the lack of floodlights poses a significant challenge for broadcasters.
According to the report, Alur is all set to host the group games of the six-day women’s T20 competition, the Maharani T20, from August 4.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association had been considering hosting the women’s final at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but that now appears uncertain as police approval is still pending.
As the Karnataka State Cricket Association contends with the prospect of a last-minute venue change, teams have expressed frustration over the financial losses they now stand to incur.
Teams had already booked hotels for players and staff based on the assumption that the entire Maharaja T20 would take place in central Bengaluru.
Bengaluru is all set to host the opening game of the Women’s ODI World Cup, along with one semifinal and the final which has put the state association in massive thought over the pending police case.
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