Belagavi, Dec 11 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D. K. Shivakumar, who also holds the role of Bengaluru Development Minister, expressed his open-mindedness regarding the Karnataka State Cricket Association's (KSCA) appeal to host international and IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

This declaration was made while he addressed media inquiries near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and Circuit House in Belagavi on Thursday.

When questioned about whether the cabinet would deliberate on the request from Venkatesh Prasad, the KSCA President, following their meeting, Shivakumar remarked, "The new KSCA President, Venkatesh Prasad, met with me and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He has put forth a request, and we will consider it in the cabinet session."

"The incident near Chinnaswamy Stadium was unfortunate. However, it occurred due to several oversights. These need to be addressed, and crowd management must adhere to distinct guidelines," he added.

The stadium has remained inactive since the tragic stampede on June 4, which claimed the lives of 11 individuals.

"From a personal standpoint, I am quite open-minded concerning this issue. We must protect our state's reputation. The matter will be discussed in the cabinet before a decision is reached," he stated.

The newly appointed KSCA President, former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad, along with other officials, visited him in Belagavi and had previously met with the Chief Minister to submit their request.

"We have no plans to prohibit cricket matches. However, crowd management strategies must be reviewed. We also aim to implement the recommendations from the Justice Michael D'Cunha Committee gradually. Venkatesh Prasad is also in agreement with this," Shivakumar mentioned.

"Regardless of whether it’s the IPL or any other match, we will not permit them to be relocated from Bengaluru. I have indicated that we should collaborate. The government is also prepared to develop new stadiums, and this will be part of our discussions," he concluded.