BCCI mulls action after 11 die in RCB celebration stampede; key decision expected soon

BCCI mulls action after 11 die in RCB celebration stampede (PTI Photo)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will discuss the creation of uniform rules for IPL victory celebrations at its 28th Apex Council Meeting on Saturday, June 14, in the wake of the tragic stampede at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 people dead and 56 injured. An estimated 2.5 lakh people flocked to the stadium and its environs last Wednesday in an attempt to see their favorite cricketers as RCB celebrated their maiden IPL triumph. One of the worst crowd-control disasters in Indian sports history ensued as the overwhelmingly large audience swiftly descended into pandemonium.

“The need for formulation of norms for IPL victory celebration will be discussed during the meeting,” a senior BCCI official confirmed to news agency PTI. According to sources, the regulations can include public safety precautions including pre-event crowd limits, required coordination with local law enforcement, celebration zones, and fan activities that are ticketed or have restricted access.

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To create a framework that strikes a mix between required safety procedures and fan interaction, the Council is anticipated to confer with state associations, security specialists, and IPL franchise managements.

Although the IPL celebration rules will be the main focus of the conference, a number of other important governance and operational matters will also be discussed:

Age Verification Programme Review: The Council will reevaluate the safeguards against age-fudging in junior cricket, with a focus on the Under-16 boys' and Under-15 girls' divisions. It is anticipated that stricter enforcement and digital documentation would be considered.

India–New Zealand Series Venues: It is also anticipated that venues for the forthcoming bilateral series between India and New Zealand would be finalized, with a focus on crowd control, weather, and logistics.

Telangana Infrastructure Irregularities: V Agam Rao, the president of the Karimnagar District Cricket Association, filed a complaint saying that BCCI funds intended for Telangana infrastructure were misused. The allegation will be examined. Justice Arun Mishra, the BCCI Ombudsman, has responded to this by requesting that the Council take "appropriate action."

Player Conduct & Domestic Season Planning: The tournament allowance policy for BCCI personnel and updates to the BCCI Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials will also be covered. The agenda will also include training programs for match referees and umpires, as well as preparations for the domestic season in 2025–2026.