Know why BCCI decides to move SMAT 2025/26 knock-outs away from Indore

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to move the knockouts of the 2025/26 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) out of the Indore Stadium in Indore due to logistical reasons. The knockouts of the event were scheduled to be held from December 12 to 18 and will now be staged at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje.

The Dr. DY Patil Academy Ground in Ambi of Pune will also participate in hosting some of the games of the knockout stage. A BCCI official confirmed that following the request of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, the knockouts of the T20 competition were moved to Pune. Quite a few top players are expected to participate in the event.

See Also: Watch: Will Jacks’ one-handed splendid catch dismisses Steve Smith during 2nd D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test

“We informed BCCI about a fortnight ago that we will not be able to stage the SMAT knockouts as there is a lack of hotel room availability here due to some global conference (of doctors) in Indore from Dec 9-12.” The MPCA CEO, Rohit Pandit, expressed the Times of India (TOI) from Indore.

BCCI moves SMAT 2025/26 knock-outs away from Indore due to hotel room availability

Meanwhile, the IndiGo flights crisis, with the airline cancelling around 1000 flights while many other domestic flights are being disrupted, could also have a massive effect on the conduct of the BCCI domestic tournaments. The board is conducting the league stage of the SMAT in four centers.

“If the crisis continues, it could be a challenge to fly the eight participating teams, as well as the umpires and other officials, to Pune for the SMAT knockouts. Also, the Women's Under-23 T20 Trophy in Ahmedabad and the Men's Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy are going on at the moment, for which the teams and officials (umpires and officials) need to travel constantly.” The reports claimed.

The next round of the tournament will begin on December 06. Jharkhand, Bengal, Hyderabad, and Mumbai are the toppers of their respective tables, while Andhra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan are the four sides that stand in second position in the points table.