The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be hosted by 10 cities in India: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. The decision of which venues to host the 2023 Cricket World Cup has been met with some controversy, with allegations of political interference being made.
One of the most notable omissions from the list of venues is the PCA Stadium in Mohali, Punjab. Mohali has hosted World Cup matches in the past, including the semi-final between India and Pakistan in 2011. However, it was not included in the list of venues for 2023.
The Punjab Sports Minister, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of political interference in the decision-making process. He has said that the exclusion of Mohali is a “clear case of discrimination” against Punjab, which is currently governed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The BCCI has denied Hayer’s allegations, saying that the decision of which venues to host the World Cup was made on purely sporting grounds. However, the controversy has led to calls for an independent inquiry into the matter.
Another venue that has been omitted from the list is the SportsHub in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The SportsHub is a world-class stadium that has hosted international matches in the past. However, it was not included in the list of venues for 2023.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed disappointment at the omission of the SportsHub, saying that it is “a clear case of bias” against Kerala. He has called on the BCCI to reconsider its decision.
The controversy over the selection of World Cup venues is a reminder of the political influence that can often be found in Indian cricket. It remains to be seen whether the BCCI will be forced to make any changes to its decision.