- Friday, February 28, 2025
Besides Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, venues such as Mohali and Ranchi have also not got any match in the 2023 cricket World Cup.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reacted to India’s opposition parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor after he said on Tuesday (27) that venues such as Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali and Ranchi should have been given an opportunity to host a match during the 2023 cricket World Cup to be held in October and November. Fixtures of the tournament were released the same day.
The Indian National Congress parliamentarian, who has represented Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha or the Lower Chamber of the parliament since 2009, also blamed the BCCI. Jay Shah, son of India’s home minister Amit Shah, is the secretary of the Indian cricket board.
“It’s a long tournament. They could have spread the joy a little better. Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali and Ranchi should have been given an opportunity to hold a World Cup match. It is not necessary for any one venue to get 4-5 matches. This is a big mistake on the part of BCCI,” Tharoor, who is known to be an ardent cricket lover, said.
It's a long tournament. They could have spread the joy a little better. Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali and Ranchi should have been given an opportunity to hold a World Cup match. It is not necessary for any one venue to get 4-5 matches. This is a big mistake on the part of BCCI:… pic.twitter.com/1HGVwKyPOQ
— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2023
A source in the BCCI responded to the MP saying if he is keen to have matches in Kerala, which also happens to be his home state, then he should try to get the stadium under the control of the state’s cricket association. It is currently under the control of the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS).
“If Tharoor is so keen to get a match in Kerala – can he first get the stadium under the control of the state association? Why is it under the control of ILFS and why should BCCI take the headache of getting extra permissions?” the source said, according to Asian News International.
“In other countries – there are only a total of 6-7 venues but ICC allowed us more because we are a big country so we can’t make everyone happy,” the source added.
Ten venues have been picked to host 46 matches featuring 10 teams during the marquee tournament which will kick off with a match between holders England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on October 5. The final will also be played at the same venue on November 19.
The venues that have been selected are Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi, Dharamsala, Pune, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati will join Hyderabad in hosting practice matches.
India will kick off their campaign against five-time champions Australia in Chennai on October 8.
