Why Mohali was Refused a World Cup 2023 Game: BCCI Vice-President Explains "Didn't Match ICC Criteria"

The 2017 50-over World Cup schedule was released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday. It will begin on October 5 in India. The BCCI has shortlisted up to ten locations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamsala, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune, to host the 48 games of the championship event. Additionally, warm-up games will be held in Trivandrum and Guwahati. According to the board's decision, certain state associations, like Punjab, are dissatisfied that they would not be able to host even one World Cup game (PCA).

World Cup games have been played at the IS Bindra PCA stadium in Mohali from 1996. Officials of the association have reacted strongly to the exclusion; in fact, the state's minister of sports has criticised the Indian cricket board for this particular omission of Mohali.

Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the BCCI, has now offered a justification for why PCA was denied the opportunity to host a game.

Mohali received Virat Kohli's 100th Test last season. In Mohali, Mullanpur Stadium is getting ready. They would have received a World Cup match had it been ready. Matches were not permitted at the existing Mohali stadium because it did not adhere to ICC criteria. But, that does not imply that they would not receive matches.

They will receive bilateral series matches; the format is based on a rotational method. There hasn't been any "pick and choose." The ICC's approval is crucial for choosing the locations. Warm-up games have been offered for the first time in Trivandrum. Not that any centre or zone has been disregarded. Even in the North East Zone, Guwahati was chosen for the matches after careful consideration when choosing the stadiums. The schedule has been modified significantly, he continued.

This time, 12 sites in total have been selected for the massive event, according to Shukla, which has never happened before.

"Twelve locations have been selected for the World Cup for the first time. These several locations weren't selected in earlier World Cups. Trivandrum and Guwahati will host warm-up matches out of these 12 locations, while the other locations will host league matches. There are now spaces for more centres. He said, "Four venues came from the South Zone, one from the Central Zone, two from the West Zone, and two from the North Zone.

Shukla also discussed the addition of new locations including Trivandrum, Guwahati, and Lucknow.

"Lucknow has been incorporated. Uttar Pradesh was never given the opportunity to host a World Cup game. A chance has been offered to Guwahati. There have been added numerous Southern venues. Before choosing the final venues, there was some thought. The ICC must approve these locations. It's not entirely in our control. All those raising concerns should be aware that we require ICC approval in order to choose these places, the speaker stated.