Fix stands or no IPL final: Committee of Administrators

The CoA also named Hyderabad as the stand-by venue in the event of Chennai missing out.

The issue of the three empty stands — I, J and K — at the MA Chidambaram Stadium hasn’t been resolved since 2012 and whenever it has hosted matches (IPL or international), the three stands have remained out of bounds for the spectators as the local municipal corporation has not provided a fit certificate.

The problem is of insufficient spacing between those stands and an adjoining building. Based on the rules, the spacing should be a minimum of 8m between the stands and any adjoining building. However, the distance between the stands I, J and K and an MCC (Madras Cricket Club) gymnasium is only 5.4m, thus violating rules.

However, some matches have been played with full attendance of spectators despite this flaw, as happened during the 2011 ICC World Cup. The same was the case during India-Pak ODI in December 2012. TNCA and BCCI had obtained a temporary approval for these games and hence, they were played in front of capacity crowds. However, the stands have been sealed since, pending corrective action from the authorities concerned.

“Three stands constitute 12,000 spectators. We don’t want CSK to lose out on home advantage,” a senior BCCI official said. “But we have given them (TNCA) a week’s time to get clearances. If they fail, the final will be shifted to Hyderabad and play-off and eliminator will go to Bengaluru. Since Sunrisers was runner-up in 2018, they will be hosting the final,” he added.