Safety concerns force ICC to move Women’s World Cup matches from Bengaluru to Navi Mumbai

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced that five matches of the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup will be moved from Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy stadium to Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil stadium.

The decision follows the Karnataka Cricket Association’s (KCA) inability to secure police approval to host matches at Chinnaswamy stadium, after a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations in June left 11 people dead and more than 50 injured. A government-appointed commission, led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha, had declared the stadium “fundamentally unsafe” for large-scale events.

ICC chairman Jay Shah welcomed Navi Mumbai as a new venue, praising the city’s growing support for women’s cricket. “The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates players and inspires fans,” he said.

Tournament dates unchanged

The tournament will still take place from September 30 to November 2. Guwahati will host the opening match between India and Sri Lanka, while Navi Mumbai will host two of India’s group-stage matches and potentially the final, depending on Pakistan’s qualification under the ICC’s hybrid model.

Matches affected in Bengaluru:

* Sept. 30: India vs Sri Lanka
* Oct. 3: England vs South Africa
* Oct. 26: India vs Bangladesh
* Oct. 30: Semi-final 2
* Nov. 2: Final
(If Pakistan qualifies, the final will be held at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium).

India’s updated group-stage fixtures:

* Sept. 30: vs Sri Lanka, Guwahati
* Oct. 5: vs Pakistan, Colombo
* Oct. 9: vs South Africa, Vizag
* Oct. 12: vs Australia, Vizag
* Oct. 19: vs England, Indore
* Oct. 23: vs New Zealand, Navi Mumbai
* Oct. 26: vs Bangladesh, Navi Mumbai

Eight teams will compete in the 50-over tournament, returning to India after 12 years.