Top News

Chennai: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has started. On the second day, an exciting match was played between New Zealand and Afghanistan, in which the Kiwi team won by 5 wickets.

Before organizing this match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the police took an important decision. Spectators were not allowed to bring whistles during this match. Generally the use of whistle has been an important part of cricket matches in Chennai, but due to the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and political sensitivity, the topic has become the center of discussion.

Chennai Police statement

Chennai Police clarified that this decision has been taken purely from security point of view. Due to the proximity of assembly elections, it is forbidden to take any sensitive items into the stadium. Police believe that extra vigilance is necessary in this election environment.

Guidelines for shopkeepers

According to local sources, the police have also issued instructions to shops around the stadium not to sell whistles on the match day. The decision sparked further discussion as these items are usually easily available to fans on match days.

Stadium management clarification

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association clarified that this decision is not theirs. According to TNCA, the ban on whistleblowing is solely a police decision. Chepauk Stadium management said that this ban has no connection with ICC or BCCI. Institutions associated with cricket operations have kept themselves away from this controversy.

No official statement from Election Commission

Recently whistle has become the official election symbol of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), formed by actor Vijay Thalapathi. The Election Commission has allotted the symbol of whistle to this party. In such a situation, due to elections being near, extra caution is being taken regarding this item in sports events. However, there has been no official statement from the police or the Election Commission on this subject.

Fan reaction and cultural impact

For Chennai cricket fans, the whistle is not just a sound but a part of the cultural identity. Chennai Super Kings’ slogan ‘Whistle Podu’ keeps echoing in the stadium during the IPL. Many fans are shocked by this ban and questions are being raised on social media whether politics has affected the atmosphere of the game.

Absence of detailed policy

Currently, this ban is said to be limited to this one T20 World Cup match in Chepauk only. No comprehensive policy has been announced for other stadiums or matches. Nevertheless, this incident demonstrates how electoral sensitivity can impact major sporting events and that such decisions are warranted for monitoring going forward.