KSCA shifts Vijay Hazare Trophy matches out of Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru

On Tuesday, December 23, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) was denied permission to host Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru by the state government and police due to safety and security concerns. Eventually, the game has to be moved to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE).

"KSCA understands that the decision on permission is linked to the implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Cunha Committee," the KSCA said in a statement on Tuesday as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"It has come to the attention of the present administration that earlier communications from the police Department since August 2025, concerning implementation of the Justice Cunha Committee recommendations, did not receive the desired level of follow-up from the previous managing committee. In contrast, the newly elected managing committee of KSCA, under the leadership of former international cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, which assumed office on 8 December 2025, has been proactive and responsive, engaging swiftly with all concerned government departments and statutory authorities within a short span of less than two weeks.”

"The present committee has actively reached out to seek guidance, inputs, and approvals required for the conduct of matches and has initiated all necessary steps to align KSCA' s actions with the expectations of the authorities … The association looks forward to receiving the detailed inputs, observations, and recommendations from the authorities forming part of the review committee and assures that all such recommendations will be implemented in a structured and time-bound manner.”

"KSCA remains fully committed to implementing all practicable safety, security, and infrastructure-related measures at the earliest. With this proactive approach and full compliance with the recommended measures, KSCA is confident that the necessary permissions for conducting Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will be granted in the near future."

Before their tournament opener against Andhra on Tuesday, Kohli and Pant are scheduled to train with the Delhi team after arriving in the city late on Monday night.

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has lost a huge number of matches, including games of the ICC Women’s World Cup and KSCA T20 league matches. There has been a flurry of activity surrounding the venue since Venkatesh Prasad assumed the role of KSCA president earlier this month. The prospect of top-tier cricket, including the IPL, returning to the location has been discussed in a number of meetings with government representatives.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!