The tragic aftermath of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL title celebrations has compelled the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to prioritise fan safety and event regulation like never before. After RCB clinched their maiden IPL title on June 3, jubilant scenes took over Bengaluru, with a massive crowd, estimated at nearly four lakh, gathering outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
What began as a long-awaited celebration quickly turned into a nightmare, with a stampede claiming 11 lives and injuring at least 56 others. The scale of the tragedy has sparked intense criticism of the event’s management. In response, the BCCI is set to address the issue in its 28th Apex Council meeting on June 14.
High on the agenda is the formulation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for future IPL victory parades to avoid such catastrophic lapses. Though the BCCI has distanced itself from direct involvement in the RCB celebration, Secretary Devajit Saikia emphasised the urgent need for clarity and accountability in organising large-scale fan events.
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Adding to the controversy, the Karnataka government has alleged that neither RCB nor the BCCI sought official permission for the victory event. The state also hinted at an internal agreement between the board and the franchise regarding crowd management, ticketing, and security—an agreement it claims was violated.
#BCCI to discuss formulation of norms for #IPL celebration after #Bengalurustampede https://t.co/izm6FqodV3 #WeRIndia pic.twitter.com/ncvy7g1lcd
— Werindia (@werindia) June 12, 2025
Beyond the tragic incident, the Apex Council will also deliberate on a range of other critical matters. This includes finalising venues for New Zealand’s upcoming white-ball tour of India, approving the 2025–26 domestic calendar, and discussing a complaint from the Karimnagar District Cricket Association’s president regarding alleged misuse of infrastructure funds in Telangana.
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Additionally, updates to the BCCI Code of Conduct, staff tournament allowances, revisions to the Age Verification Programme (AVP), and appointments of umpire and referee coaches will also be reviewed. This meeting could mark a pivotal moment for Indian cricket governance, particularly in how it manages fan engagement and safety during landmark events.
