Following the tragic stampede that ruined Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL title celebrations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to hold a special meeting to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for future Indian Premier League (IPL) victory parades. The matter is reportedly an important point of discussion during the BCCI’s 28th Apex Council meeting, scheduled for June 14.
RCB’s maiden IPL title win on June 3 triggered a massive fanfare the next day, with thousands gathering in Bengaluru to celebrate the team’s long-awaited triumph. However, the celebrations turned into a tragic event when a massive crowd, estimated to be around four lakh people, gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The huge mob led to a stampede, resulting in the death of 11 and leaving 56 others severely injured. The incident drew immense criticism of the planning and execution of the event.
The BCCI, while distancing itself from direct involvement in the event, strongly condemned the incident. Secretary Devajit Saikia revealed the need for responsibility. Meanwhile, considering the urgency of the matter, the Apex Council has now listed discussion regarding IPL victory celebration and the need for formulation of norms as a top agenda item.
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The Karnataka government, meanwhile, has blamed both RCB and the BCCI, claiming no official permission was sought for the event and alleging an agreement existed between the board and the franchise regarding security and ticketing.
Apart from the formulation of celebration protocols, the June 14 Apex Council meeting will cover several other important issues. These include finalising venues for New Zealand’s tour of India, which features three ODIs and five T20Is, and approving the schedule for the 2025–26 domestic season.
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Also on the agenda is a complaint by V. Agam Rao, president of the Karimnagar District Cricket Association, regarding alleged misutilisation of cricket infrastructure funds in Telangana. The Council will consider the BCCI Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials, tournament allowance policies for staff, proposed changes to the Age Verification Programme (AVP), and the appointment of coaches for umpires and match referees.
