All Vijay Hazare Trophy matches scheduled at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium will now be relocated to the BCCI Centre of Excellence following a directive from the Karnataka government due to security concerns. A DDCA official confirmed the decision, stating that the move was made earlier in the day in response to security reasons as indicated by the state government.
Both teams participating in the opening game have been informed about the venue change, with their pre-match training sessions now scheduled to take place at the BCCI CoE. The Delhi team, set to play against Andhra, will now conduct their pre-match practice at the CoE as per the official’s statement.
In light of the security issues, all Vijay Hazare matches in Bengaluru will be held without spectators, with the Bengaluru police ensuring a robust security presence around the Aerospace Park where the CoE is situated. Karnataka Police have declined permission for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh at Chinnaswamy Stadium, citing significant safety and crowd-control concerns.
A detailed inspection by Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar, officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority, and the Fire Department revealed critical gaps in venue infrastructure and emergency preparedness, leading to the decision to relocate the matches. A committee formed by the Karnataka government, including representatives from various departments, inspected the stadium and submitted a report outlining safety measures compliance.
The Bengaluru City Police Commissioner had previously issued a 17-point advisory on mandatory safety measures, with the committee verifying the stadium’s adherence to these guidelines and reporting back to the government. Commissioner Singh confirmed that permission has not been granted for the match at Chinnaswamy Stadium based on the committee’s detailed findings.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had earlier expressed confidence in hosting matches featuring players like Kohli and Pant at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
