Cricket fans around the world and in India are getting ready to see the 50 over World Cup later this year. India is set to host the event as the single host for the 1st time ever. The International Cricket Council announced the schedule on Tuesday. The tournament begins on 5th October with the blockbuster between England and New Zealand at Ahmedabad. The two teams had played the finals of the 2019 World Cup with England winning the title after beating New Zealand in the super over.
The story as it happened –
The fans were happy and chuffed to know the ICC 50 over World Cup. Ahmedabad plays host to the 1st game as well as the final of the tournament on 19th November. The big game between India and Pakistan is also set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on the 15th October. Two Indian venues which had hosted World Cup games in the past was overlooked. The venues in question are Nagpur and Punjab’s Mohali cricket ground.
Rajeev Shukla reveals the reason for Mohali being overlooked –
BCCI Vice President, Rajeev Shukla has hit back at Punjab’s sport ministers comment on Mohali being ignored. Gurmeet Singh had taken aim at the BCCI for not giving Mohali any world cup game.
Rajeev Shukla was quick to come out and spoke to media agency ANI and said “all the bilateral matches will be given to Mohali, there will be no discrimination. 100th test match of Virat Kohli had been given to Mohali. Their Mullanpur stadium is getting ready and said to be finished. Had Mullanpur been ready, they would have definitely hosted the World Cup, but Mohali was not meeting the standards fixed by ICC and that’s why it has been denied”
Rajeev Shukla defends the schedule and venues –
Kerala was yet another state that was overlooked as Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from the state had expressed his sadness at Kerala not being given host status. Rajeev Shukla who happens to be from Congress has come out and defended the venues allocation for the big event later this year.
Mr. Shukla while speaking to ANI said “I think it is a well-dropped schedule. Everybody has pondered over it and new venues have been added. Lucknow and Guwahati have been given a chance. UP never got a chance to host a World Cup ever before. A lot many venues from South has been added. They have given a fair amount of consideration before finalising the venues."
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla hits back at ‘political interference’ claims for WC 2023 venues#ICCWorldCup2023 #BCCI #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/aLb4TYd2ZQ
— News18 (@CNNnews18) June 28, 2023
Approval of ICC needed –
The BCCI and ICC have been constantly in touch with each other as far as each and every venue is concerned. Mumbai which hosted the 2011 World Cup final is set to have some changes done ahead of the big event.
Rajeev Shukla further said “Secondly, you should always keep in mind (that) ICC has to approve all those venues. It's not probably in BCCI's hands. All those who are alleging objections should realise that we need the consent of ICC also while picking up these venues.