World Cup 2023 Venue Selection: BCCI Vice President Hits Back Over 'Political Interference' Accusation

Criticism has been hurled at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) by traditional state associations that were left out of the list of venues for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. 

The schedule for the tournament was recently announced at an event in Mumbai, unveiling 10 host cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. 

Trivandrum and Guwahati have been selected as the venues for the warm-up matches. However, some centers that missed out, such as Mohali, Indore, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Nagpur, expressed disappointment.

Mohali, a stadium that has hosted significant World Cup matches since 1996, raised the most eyebrows. Unsurprisingly, strong reactions emerged from that region. Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer criticized the BCCI for excluding Mohali as a venue, suggesting political interference. 

In response, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla stepped up to provide an explanation.

Shukla clarified that Mohali would receive bilateral series matches and assured that there would be no discrimination. He stated that the current stadium in Mohali failed to meet the ICC standards, leading to its exclusion. Nevertheless, the absence of World Cup matches does not mean they won't be given any matches in the future. According to Shukla, the forthcoming Mullanpur Stadium in Mohali, which is under construction, would have been considered if it had been ready. The allocation of matches is determined through a rotational system, and there is no "pick and choose" approach. The finalization of venues requires the ICC's approval.

Shukla highlighted that the upcoming World Cup would be held across 12 venues, an unprecedented number in the history of the tournament. Trivandrum and Guwahati were chosen for warm-up matches, while the remaining venues would host the league matches. The selection process took various factors into account, including accommodation, and ensured representation from different zones. New venues like Lucknow, Guwahati, and Trivandrum were added, offering opportunities to regions that had not previously hosted World Cup matches.

Addressing objections raised against the venue selection, Shukla emphasized the importance of ICC approval and urged critics to acknowledge the necessity of obtaining consent from the international governing body. The BCCI, despite facing scrutiny, remains committed to organizing a successful and inclusive World Cup 2023.

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