New Delhi | In a significant last-minute change, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced that Mumbai will replace Bengaluru as one of the five host cities for next month's Women's ODI World Cup, citing "unforeseen circumstances".
The decision comes after the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru failed to secure the required administrative and security clearances, rendering it ineligible to host matches in the tournament starting September 30.
The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will now host up to five fixtures including the tournament opener, a semifinal and potentially the final on November 2.
"While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women's game," ICC Chairman Jay Shah said in a statement.
"The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans," he added.
The decision to drop Bengaluru comes in the wake of a tragic stampede on June 4, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations outside the stadium, which claimed the lives of 11 fans.
Since the incident, no matches have been held at the stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) eventually instructed the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to obtain the necessary security clearances for the World Cup.
However, the state unit was unable to do so in the prescribed time frame after an inquiry into the stampede declared that the design and structure of the venue was "unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering".
As per the ICC guidelines, the host association needs to hand over the venue to the global governing body 30 days prior to the tournament's start, and no other matches should be held at the stadium in that period.
The Greenfield Stadium in Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, was initially considered as a replacement venue before Navi Mumbai was finalised.
The ICC Women's ODI World Cup is returning to India after a 12-year hiatus, marking a pivotal moment for the sport. Shah emphasised Navi Mumbai's growing reputation as a hub for women's cricket.
"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women's cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women's Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans.
"I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Shah said.
Alongside Navi Mumbai, the other confirmed venues for the eight-team tournament include Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Colombo.
Colombo is the neutral venue to conduct the India-Pakistan clash as the two countries have decided against touring each other even for multi-lateral engagements.
As per an understanding reached before the Champions Trophy earlier this year, all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events until 2027 will be held at neutral venues.
