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BCCI forms three-member committee to formulate guidelines in aftermath of Bengaluru stampede
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will be heading the three-member committee that will be formulating guidelines to regulate IPL title celebrations in the aftermath of the Bengaluru stampede. PTI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced the creation of a three-member committee headed by secretary Devajit Saikia that will be setting guidelines to prevent tragedies like the stampede in Bengaluru earlier this month in the future. The decision was made during the board's Apex Council Meeting that took place on the same day.
BCCI decides to act in the aftermath of the Chinnaswamy tragedy
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia are the other members in the Saikia-led committee that will formulate the guidelines within 15 days.
'In light of the incident that occurred during the victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Apex Council has decided to constitute a committee to formulate comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing such occurrences in the future,' read a statement from the BCCI.
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Tragedy had struck Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru were celebrating their maiden Indian Premier League title on 4 June, as a stampede broke out outside the 32,000-capacity venue due to overcrowding, resulting in 11 deaths and up to 75 people getting injured.
RCB, who had defeated Punjab Kings in the IPL final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium the day before the incident, had come under heavy criticism for arranging the victory celebration at Chinnaswamy at such a short notice.
The BCCI, meanwhile, had claimed it had nothing to do with RCB's celebration that ultimately took a tragic turn, but added that they would be coming up with measures in the future.
Board announces initiatives for umpire and match referee development
Some of the other decisions that the BCCI Apex Council took in their meeting was establish a Working Group of five 'Umpire Coaches' to oversee development of umpires and their on-field performance. According to the board, the 'Umpire Coaches' must possess international umpiring experience.
Similarly, the board announced the formation of a three-member Working Group to oversee the development of match referees in India and provide them with opportunities to improve their performance.
The BCCI also expressed 'profound grief' over the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad involving Air India Flight AI 171 which claimed at least 274 lives, including those on board as well as on the ground.
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