Bengaluru is set to miss out on hosting the upcoming Women’s World Cup (WWC) matches, including the tournament opener on September 30, with the games likely moving to Thiruvananthapuram. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to confirm the revised venue within days.
Originally, Chinnaswamy Stadium was allotted five fixtures — the opener featuring India, England-South Africa (October 3), India-Bangladesh (October 26), and two knockout matches. Bengaluru was also in contention to host the final on November 2. However, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) failed to secure state government approval despite a two-day extension from the BCCI beyond the August 9 deadline.
The state’s stance towards large cricket events has hardened following the June 4 RCB victory parade tragedy that left 11 dead and scores injured. Recently, the government also refused permission for the Maharaja Cup, shifting it to Mysuru.
With time running out, the ICC and BCCI have decided to relocate Bengaluru’s matches. Hyderabad was considered, but Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as the frontrunner. Chennai was ruled out due to ongoing renovations until December. Colombo remains the designated neutral venue for Pakistan’s games, including the final if they qualify.
The Women’s World Cup will be played from September 30 to November 2, featuring eight teams — Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, hosts India, and Sri Lanka — across 31 matches.