Bengaluru dropped as Women’s World Cup venue after RCB parade tragedy

Dubai: Bengaluru’s cricket faithful may be paying the price for the euphoric but tragic celebrations that followed Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title in June. The city, which was due to host the opening match and possibly the final of the Women’s World Cup, has been dropped from the list of venues just weeks before the tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Friday that Mumbai will now replace Bengaluru as one of the four Indian host cities for the 50-over event beginning September 30. Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host, will stage matches in Colombo, while Guwahati has stepped in to stage the high-profile curtain-raiser between India and Sri Lanka.

The ICC cited only “unforeseen circumstances” for moving games away from the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But local media reports indicate that the Karnataka police had refused to grant clearance for major matches at the venue. A judicial commission had earlier deemed the stadium “unsafe” to handle large crowds following the stampede-like chaos on June 4 that left 11 people dead and over 50 injured during the RCB victory parade.

That tragedy, which saw fans as young as 14 crushed to death as thousands swarmed the stadium gates, shocked Indian cricket and sparked nationwide outrage. For many, the removal of Bengaluru from the World Cup roster now appears a direct consequence of that fateful day.

Originally, the city was slated to host up to five matches, including the November 2 final — depending on whether Pakistan reached the title decider. With the change, the final will instead be held either in Mumbai or Colombo. Pakistan, meanwhile, will play all their games in Colombo under a compromise arrangement between the Asian Cricket Council and the ICC.

For Bengaluru, the loss of hosting rights is not just a sporting blow but also an economic and reputational setback. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has long been a favourite for international fixtures, renowned for its atmosphere and passionate following. Being sidelined from a marquee ICC event underscores how the June tragedy has altered perceptions of the venue’s readiness to stage global tournaments.

While the ICC has avoided directly linking its decision to the RCB celebrations, the optics are difficult to ignore. The Women’s World Cup was seen as an opportunity to showcase India’s growing interest in women’s cricket, with Bengaluru expected to play a central role. Instead, the city has been relegated to the sidelines, a reminder of how fan safety lapses can have long-lasting repercussions.

With the countdown to the tournament underway, attention now turns to how smoothly the relocated fixtures will be managed. For Bengaluru, the real issue is not just missing out on a few games, but how the setback reshapes its role in India’s cricket calendar.

— With inputs from AFP