The permission to host the Vijay Hazare trophy match between Delhi and Andra Pradesh at the Chinnaswamy Stadium was denied as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which manages it, has failed to comply with the safety and security requirements, Karnataka Home Minister G Paraemeshwara said on Wednesday.
He advised the KSCA to comply with the recommendations of the Justice John Michael Cunha’s Commission, and said that following which the request may be considered. He asserted that the government will not take any “hasty decision” on the matter.
KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya on Tuesday had said that the Vijay Hazare trophy matches have been shifted to the BCCI Centre of Excellence, on the outskirts of the city, near the Kempegowda International Airport.
In a statement he said that 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 Chinnaswamy Stadium will be granted in the near future.
“After Venkatesh Prasad (former cricketer) led team was elected to administer the KSCA, they met the Chief Minister and deputy CM, seeking permission to host cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The cabinet after discussion authorised me as the Home Minister to take a decision,” Parameshwara told reporters.
He also mentioned that KSCA has not complied with any recommendation and that is why the permission was denied. “I had constituted a committee headed by Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) commissioner Maheshwar Rao and consisting of police commissioner and other department officials to visit the stadium and provide feedback.”
They visited the stadium on Monday.
Stating that the Committee during the visit to the stadium found that none of the recommendations were compiled to by the KSCA, the Home minister said.
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The Justice Cunha Commission had reportedly concluded in its report that the “design and structure” of the stadium were “unsuitable and unsafe” for mass gatherings.
Its reported recommendations include adequate gates for mass entry and exit, purpose-built queuing and circulation zones separated from public roads, emergency evacuation plans compliant with international safety norms, and sufficient parking.
The match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh was played behind the closed doors and featured former India captain Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant.
Kohli scored 133 runs in 101 balls chasing 299 as Delhi eased to a win over Andhra Pradesh by 4 wickets.
