Permission Denied For Vijay Hazare Trophy Match at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Dec 24

Bengaluru: Dreams of office-bearers of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) were scattered after permission for tomorrow’s match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh as part of Vijay Hazare trophy to be held at M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru has been denied by a Committee constituted by the Home department. KSCA made an appeal to the State Government to allow Delhi and Andhra Pradesh to play a match at Chinnaswamy stadium sans spectators.

However, the denial of permission to host the Delhi and Andhra Pradesh match at Chinnaswamy stadium, officials of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shifted the match to a stadium at Centre of Excellence (CoE) near Devanahalli, close to Bengaluru city.

Permission from the State Government was needed by KSCA, the operator of Chinnaswamy stadium, after the State Government withdrew hosting rights following a stampede on June 4 this year. The stampede occurred in and around the stadium when large gathering made desperate attempts to gain entry into the stadium to watch felicitation to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The stampede claimed 11 persons and injured about 70 persons.

Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru Seemanth Kumar Singh told a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday the Committee constituted officials from Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), Public Works Department (PWD), Fire and Emergency Services, Bengaluru police and Health department to conduct a spot inspection of the stadium. Based on the report of various departments, the Commissioner of Police stated permission has been denied. But, refused to divulge further details.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated after the stampede, the State Government constituted a Commission under Justice John Michael D’Cunha and KSCA has to comply with the recommendations of the Commission for the State Government to accord permission for KSCA to host cricket matches.