In the wake of the tragic stampede at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly set to hold an Apex Council Meeting on Saturday, June 14. The primary focus of this meeting will be to formulate standard guidelines for Indian Premier League (IPL) victory celebrations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The stampede occurred when an estimated 250,000 fans gathered outside the stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory. The massive crowd overwhelmed security arrangements, leading to a chaotic situation. While the BCCI acknowledged that the celebrations could have been better managed, the matter will now be formally discussed during the upcoming meeting.
One of the key agenda items will be the formulation of norms for IPL victory celebrations. A BCCI source stated, "The need for formulation of norms for IPL victory celebration will be discussed during the meeting." This indicates that the board is taking the incident seriously and is committed to implementing measures to ensure the safety of fans during future celebrations.
In addition to addressing the IPL victory celebration norms, the Apex Council Meeting will cover several other important topics. These include finalizing venues for the upcoming India-New Zealand series, which is scheduled for early next year and includes three ODIs and five T20Is. The council is also expected to review the existing Age Verification Programme (AVP), a mechanism aimed at curbing age-fudging in age-group cricket, particularly in the Under-16 (boys) and Under-15 (girls) categories.
Another matter likely to be taken up is a complaint filed in April 2025 by Karimnagar District Cricket Association president V. Agam Rao, alleging irregularities in the utilization of funds allocated for cricket infrastructure development in Telangana districts. BCCI Ombudsman Justice Arun Mishra has directed the Apex Council to take appropriate action on the complaint, and the matter will be discussed during the meeting.
Other agenda items include discussions on the BCCI Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials, the tournament allowance policy for BCCI employees, updates on the 2025–26 domestic season, and matters related to umpire and match referee coaches. The Apex Council will also consider approvals for tenders related to player registration document verification and broadcast graphics services for domestic matches.
The Karnataka government has also weighed in on the Bengaluru stampede, holding RCB and the BCCI responsible for the incident. During a hearing in the Karnataka High Court, the state government stated that the organizers did not seek permission for the celebratory event and had "invited the whole world" through social media. This highlights the need for better coordination between event organizers, local authorities, and the BCCI to ensure the safety of fans during public events.
The incident has already had repercussions for cricket in Bengaluru, with the BCCI shifting the three-match one-day series between India 'A' and South Africa 'A,' scheduled for November 13-19, 2025, to Rajkot in Gujarat. While the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) denies any link between the stampede and the change of venues, sources suggest that more events could be relocated. There are also concerns about the stadium's condition and Bengaluru's role as a future cricket venue. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly weighing the feasibility of holding ICC Women's World Cup matches in Bengaluru, which are scheduled to take place between September and November.
