Bengaluru's Women's World Cup Hosting in Doubt Amidst Government Approval Delays

The upcoming Women's ODI World Cup in Bengaluru is facing potential disruptions. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and the ICC (International Cricket Council) are concerned about the local Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) awaiting government approval to host the matches.

The city is scheduled to host four fixtures, including the tournament opener between India and Sri Lanka, © BCCI

The city is scheduled to host the tournament's opening match between India and Sri Lanka on September 30 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, this game, along with three others including a semi-final, are now uncertain. Bengaluru was also slated to host the final on November 2 if Pakistan doesn't qualify.

The primary reason for the uncertainty stems from a tragic incident in June, where a stampede resulted in the death of 11 fans during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations. The matter is now in court, and the State Government has yet to grant permission for the matches. The KSCA has already moved the Maharaja Cup T20 tournament from Bengaluru to Mysuru, awaiting the green light for the Women's World Cup.

A KSCA official stated: "We've written to the State Government and are awaiting a response. It's not as if they've denied permission... There is some more time for this and we're going step by step."

Besides the opening match, other games scheduled for the Chinnaswamy include England versus South Africa on October 3, India versus Bangladesh on October 26, and the second semi-final on October 30. The other venues for the eight-team ODI World Cup are ACA Stadium in Guwahati, Holkar Stadium in Indore, ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, and R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The competing teams include Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. The tournament will feature a total of 31 games, comprising 28 league matches, two semi-finals, and the final.