BCCI Orders State Boards to Protect IPL Venues from Miscellaneous Activities

Published on: February 9, 2025

BCCI Orders State Boards to Protect IPL Venues from Miscellaneous Activities

BCCI Sets Guidelines to Protect IPL Venue Grounds Ahead of 2025 Season

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a key decision to protect the playing conditions of IPL venues across the country. In preparation for the 2025 season, the BCCI has instructed all state cricket associations to ensure that the outfields, pitches, and main square areas of these stadiums are kept in the best possible condition. The league’s growing importance and the significant investment in IPL matches make maintaining top-quality surfaces a top priority.

BCCI’s Directives to State Cricket Associations

In a letter sent to the state cricket associations on Friday, the BCCI emphasized that IPL venues should not be used for any purpose other than official cricket activities until the start of IPL 2025. The central concern for the BCCI is the need to maintain the outfields and pitches in optimal condition for the high-profile matches of the IPL season.

With the IPL becoming a major global sporting event, the quality of the playing fields is critical. The BCCI’s decision comes after growing concerns that some IPL teams were planning practice sessions and other activities at these venues well before the tournament began. While these activities are intended to prepare the players, the BCCI decided that the potential harm to the pitches and outfields outweighed the benefits. The guidelines are now in place to ensure that the IPL venues remain undamaged and ready for the main tournament.

Table of Contents

Ban on Non-Cricketing Activities

The BCCI has made it clear that IPL venues must not be used for any non-cricketing activities. The main square and outfield are to be off-limits for local matches, celebrity cricket games, Legends League Cricket, or practice sessions organized by IPL franchises. The reason for this is simple – excessive use can damage the surfaces and affect the quality of play during the actual IPL matches.

The BCCI has set these rules to preserve the quality of the pitches and the outfields. Non-cricketing events and even private functions on the grounds have been found to cause wear and tear, which could lead to substandard playing conditions. The BCCI is therefore taking action to prevent this from happening, aiming to provide the best possible environment for players during the IPL.

Allowed Use for Ranji Trophy Knockouts

While the BCCI has imposed a blanket ban on local matches and unofficial events, it has made an exception for one specific type of cricketing event: the Ranji Trophy knockout matches. These domestic first-class matches are part of the official cricket calendar and are allowed to take place on IPL venues before the IPL season starts.

The Ranji Trophy is a vital tournament in India’s domestic cricket structure, with its knockout stage featuring the top teams from different regions. The BCCI recognizes the importance of this competition and is allowing it to proceed at IPL venues without compromising the preparation for IPL 2025. However, this exception only applies to the Ranji Trophy and does not extend to other non-IPL events, such as exhibition matches or celebrity games.

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The Importance of Quality Playing Surfaces

The decision to restrict non-cricketing events is driven by the BCCI’s recognition of how crucial it is to maintain top-quality pitches and outfields. The IPL is one of the most financially lucrative cricket leagues in the world, attracting not just the best Indian players but also international stars. To ensure the success of the tournament, the condition of the playing surfaces plays a significant role.

Over time, the demand for high-quality facilities has increased, as players and coaches rely on these surfaces to perform at their best. Any damage to the outfields or pitches could directly impact the performance of the players and may even pose safety risks. The BCCI understands this and wants to prevent any damage before the league starts.Excessive use of the playing fields for non-official events or practice sessions could wear out the outfields and pitches, creating uneven conditions that could affect how the ball behaves and how players move. By restricting the use of these grounds, the BCCI aims to preserve their quality and ensure that the playing surfaces are as good as possible for IPL matches.

Challenges for Venues Without Practice Grounds

While the BCCI’s directive is clear, it presents a challenge for some of the most iconic IPL venues, such as Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. These stadiums do not have dedicated practice grounds outside of the main stadium, which means that players often have no choice but to use the main field for their practice sessions.

For example, Eden Gardens is currently hosting Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, which means the outfield is being used for official cricket activities. However, this creates a situation where finding alternative practice facilities for IPL teams becomes difficult, especially considering that no other practice ground is available at the venue. Similarly, Wankhede Stadium faces a similar issue, as the Mumbai Indians franchise may need to look for practice facilities elsewhere to comply with the BCCI’s directive.

Impact on Other IPL Venues Across India

The directive also affects other state cricket associations that manage IPL venues. These include the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), among others. All these state associations are now required to follow the BCCI’s rules regarding the use of their grounds.

For smaller venues like Dharamsala and Guwahati, which have hosted IPL matches but are not home grounds for franchises, the BCCI’s restrictions apply just as strictly. State cricket associations from Himachal Pradesh and Assam must also ensure that their stadiums are kept in pristine condition and that no non-IPL activities take place during the lead-up to the IPL season.

Conclusion

To sum up, the BCCI’s new directive is a vital step to ensure that IPL venues are in the best possible condition for IPL 2025. By restricting the use of these venues to official cricket events and banning non-cricketing activities, the BCCI is putting the focus on maintaining top-quality playing surfaces. As the IPL continues to grow in importance and visibility, keeping the playing conditions pristine is essential for the league’s success. This directive reflects the BCCI’s commitment to upholding the standards of the IPL and ensuring that all matches are played on world-class pitches and outfields.