IPL final moved from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad

The final of this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) has been shifted to Ahmedabad, ​the country's cricket board said on Wednesday, citing ‌operational and logistical issues at the original venue in Bengaluru.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's celebration after winning their maiden IPL went horribly ​wrong last year when 11 people were killed ​in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The local ⁠government reviewed its safety arrangements before allowing it to ​stage IPL matches this season, including the May 31 ​final, at their home ground.

"Bengaluru was originally designated to host the final," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia ​said in a statement.

"However, owing to certain requirements ​from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope ‌of ⁠BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned."

According to the league's new playoff schedule, Dharamsala will host the first qualifier on May 26, while ​New Chandigarh ​will stage the ⁠eliminator and the second qualifier before action moves to the world's largest cricket ​stadium in Ahmedabad.

The 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium has ​regularly ⁠been allotted high-profile matches, including the finals of the 2023 50-overs World Cup and the Twenty20 World Cup this ⁠year.

This ​will be the fourth IPL ​final to be played at the venue in the last five years.

- Reuters