BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla has given a reply to certain allegations made by Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) after Mohali missed out on hosting a World Cup match in the recent schedule released for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023.
Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer had raised objections to the exclusion of Mohali from the WC schedule, stating that the venue missed out on hosting a World Cup match due to political interference.
"The exclusion of Punjab's Mohali from the list of host cities for the tournament was due to political interference. Punjab government will raise this issue with BCCI," Hayer had said.
However, Shukla has now revealed that the current IS Bindra PCA stadium in Mohali did not meet the standards of the ICC, whose consent is extremely important in finalizing the venues for the tournament.
Shukla said that this time 12 venues have been chosen for the mega cricketing event, something which has not happened before.
"For the first time, 12 venues have been chosen for World Cup. Earlier, these many venues were not chosen in previous World Cups. Out of these 12 venues, warm-up matches will be held in Trivandrum and Guwahati, remaining venues will have league matches. More centers have been accommodated.
From South Zone Four venues, central zone one venues, West Zone Two, and North Zone Two venues. Delhi and Dharamshala will host the matches (In North Zone)," Shukla told ANI.
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Shukla said that bilateral series matches will be given to Mohali and there will be no discrimination.
"Virat Kohli's 100th Test last year was given to Mohali. Mullanpur Stadium is getting ready in Mohali. Had it been ready, they would have got a World Cup match. The current stadium in Mohali did not meet the standards of ICC and hence was denied matches. But that does not match would not be given to them. Bilateral series matches will be given to them, it is based on a rotational system. No 'pick and choosing' has been done.
ICC's consent is important in finalizing the venues. In Trivandrum, warm-up matches have been given, for the first time. It is not that any center/zone has been ignored. Stadiums have been chosen after a lot of consideration, even in North East Zone, Guwahati got the matches. A lot of accommodation has been done in the schedule," he added.
On the World Cup schedule, Shukla said that new venues have been added this time around.
"Lucknow has been added. Uttar Pradesh never got a chance to host a World Cup match. Guwahati has been given a chance. Many venues from the South have been added. A fair amount of consideration was given before venues were finalized. ICC has to approve these venues. It is not purely in our hands. All those raising objections should realize that we need consent from ICC to pick up these venues," he said.
(ANI inputs)
