Belagavi, Dec 10 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and Congress State President D.K. Shivakumar announced that the proposal regarding the resumption of cricket matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will be deliberated and concluded in the Cabinet meeting set for Thursday (December 11). Notably, the stadium has remained inactive since the tragic stampede on June 4, which claimed the lives of 11 individuals.

Shivakumar addressed the press on Wednesday at the Belagavi Circuit House after welcoming the newly elected President of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), former Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad, along with other newly appointed officials.

“We do not aim to halt cricket matches. However, it is essential to review crowd-management strategies. Additionally, we are committed to implementing the recommendations from the Justice Michael D’Cunha Committee gradually. Venkatesh Prasad has also concurred with this,” he stated.

“Our government is dedicated to addressing the concerns of cricket enthusiasts while preserving the dignity and respect of our state,” he added.

“Regardless of whether it’s the IPL or any other match, we will not permit them to be relocated from Bengaluru. I've indicated that we must collaborate. The government is also prepared to construct new stadiums, which will be a topic of discussion,” he remarked.

Shivakumar noted that the newly appointed KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad and his team had previously met with him and the Chief Minister to seek the government's assistance for the upcoming cricket matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“I extend my best wishes to Venkatesh Prasad’s team, which enjoys the backing of former cricketers Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble, as they take charge. I have communicated the government’s congratulations,” he said.

It is important to remember that on June 4, eleven individuals lost their lives during a stampede while celebrating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s first-ever victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Thousands of fans gathered outside Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate, and the attendance far exceeded the stadium’s capacity of approximately 35,000, reportedly swelling to between 200,000 to 300,000.

The chaos over free passes and tickets, along with last-minute entry rumors, led to large crowds forming at multiple gates. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the stadium management, the organizing bodies (Karnataka State Cricket Association - KSCA, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the event management company) for negligence and inadequate crowd control.

This tragedy has drawn significant criticism regarding stadium safety, crowd-management protocols, and last-minute planning. The incident is now considered one of the most severe fan-related disasters in Indian cricket history.

Since the stampede on June 4, the stadium has not hosted any matches, effectively suspending its hosting rights immediately afterward. The state government has mandated a comprehensive structural-safety evaluation before permitting any further high-capacity events (such as IPL, international, or major domestic matches) at Chinnaswamy Stadium.