As per sources, fans in Bengaluru won’t get the opportunity to watch Virat Kohli in action, with the star cricketer expected to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy game for Delhi against Andhra at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on December 24. The Chinnaswamy hasn’t hosted any game of cricket since the tragic events near the stadium on June 4, which resulted in 11 deaths and numerous injuries.
The Ventakesh Prasad-led Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) panel was thinking of opening a stand or two to the general public. However, the state government is said to not be keen on it, due to security reasons. It is a foregone conclusion that any game involving Kohli would draw huge crowds at the Chinnaswamy. In that context, there is still a small chance of the KSCA moving the game to the Centre of Excellence.
Earlier, the Karnataka cabinet had given the green light to the KSCA with regards to hosting cricket matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, DK Shivakumar, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, observed that the permission would be based on the association implementing the recommendations of Justice John Michael Cunha Commission’s report.
Incidentally, the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission’s report had noted, “The design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering. Given these systemic limitations, (the commission) strongly recommends that stadium authorities consider relocating events that are expected to attract large crowds to venues that are better suited for such gatherings.”
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