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In response to the tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives and injured 56 others during the IPL celebration at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to hold urgent discussions on creating standardized safety guidelines for future cricket victory events. The issue will take top priority during the BCCI’s 28th Apex Council Meeting on Saturday, June 14.

The stampede occurred on the evening of June 4, during a massive celebration event organized to mark Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2024 title win. With over 2.5 lakh fans crowding the stadium and surrounding roads in hopes of seeing their favourite players, the situation quickly descended into chaos, exposing significant failures in crowd control and public safety.

BCCI to Prioritise Public Safety Guidelines for IPL Celebrations

A senior BCCI official confirmed to PTI that “formulation of norms for IPL victory celebrations” will be one of the primary discussion points during the upcoming council meeting.

According to sources, the new guidelines could include:

• Crowd caps based on venue capacity

• Mandatory coordination with local police and municipal authorities

• Designated celebration zones away from congested public areas

• Ticketed or limited-access fan events to control turnout

• Emergency response protocols in coordination with hospitals and fire services

The BCCI is also expected to consult state cricket associations, security agencies, and IPL franchise representatives to ensure that fan engagement does not come at the cost of public safety.

Other Key Issues on the Apex Council Agenda

While IPL celebrations will dominate the meeting, the BCCI will also focus on a range of pressing issues concerning governance and cricket operations:

1. Age-Fraud in Junior Cricket

The council will reassess the Age Verification Programme to tackle age manipulation in junior categories, especially the Under-16 boys and Under-15 girls divisions. Stricter rules and digitized records are likely to be proposed.

2. India–New Zealand Bilateral Series Venues

The selection of venues for India’s upcoming series against New Zealand will be finalized. The BCCI will factor in weather conditions, logistics, and crowd management capabilities of the shortlisted venues.

3. Telangana Infrastructure Irregularities

The Council will address a serious complaint by Karimnagar District Cricket Association president V. Agam Rao, who has alleged the misuse of BCCI funds meant for cricket infrastructure in Telangana. BCCI Ombudsman Justice Arun Mishra has directed the Council to take “appropriate action” on the matter.

4. Code of Conduct & Domestic Season Planning

Updates to the BCCI Code of Conduct for players and officials will be reviewed, alongside a discussion on the tournament allowance policy for BCCI employees. Planning for the 2025–26 domestic cricket season, including training programs for umpires and referees, is also on the agenda.

A Tragedy That Demands Immediate Change

The Bengaluru stadium stampede has raised urgent questions about how major cricket events are organized and monitored in India. With increasing fan involvement in the IPL and cricket’s growing popularity, the need for clear, enforceable safety norms is more critical than ever.

As the BCCI convenes on June 14, fans, families of victims, and civil society at large will watch closely to see whether the governing body can rise to the occasion and ensure such a devastating loss of life never happens again.