NEW DELHI: The BCCI cannot give preference to any particular city over others for hosting major finals, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla said on Friday in response to Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray’s recent demand.
Thackeray had called for future World Cup finals to be held in Mumbai after huge crowds turned out for the Indian cricket team’s victory parade on Thursday.
“Yesterday’s celebrations in Mumbai are also a strong message to the BCCI… Don’t take the World Cup final away from Mumbai!” Thackeray wrote on X.
“It is the BCCI’s policy as to where the final will be held. It cannot necessarily be held in any particular city,” Shukla told PTI on Friday.
The semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai while the final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest in terms of seating capacity.
“The 1987 World Cup final was also played in Kolkata and Kolkata is considered the Mecca. So, we cannot decide that it has to always be held in a particular city,” Shukla said.
“The semi-finals and finals are being played in Mumbai. Similarly, the stadium in Ahmedabad has a capacity of 130,000 and we will also be playing the matches at capacity,” he added.
“Kolkata (Eden Gardens) has a large capacity and can accommodate around 80,000 spectators (around 66,000). Other cities are similar.”
“This is a decision that purely keeps the entire country and all venues in mind. It cannot be limited to one venue,” explained a senior committee official.
Shukla stressed that it is not right to pick a particular venue for an important match.
He also praised Mumbai for turning out fans in large numbers for the open bus parade and praised the Mumbai Police for running the event efficiently.
“It was really good to see the reaction of the people of Mumbai. Mumbai will always be our top priority. Not that it won’t be. But the decision as a whole BCCI has to make as to where the final will be held, where the semi-final will be played… Every match matters,” he said.
“Mumbai has always been on our priority list. But to say all the finals should be held in one city… will never happen in any country,” Shukla added.
Thackeray had called for future World Cup finals to be held in Mumbai after huge crowds turned out for the Indian cricket team’s victory parade on Thursday.
“Yesterday’s celebrations in Mumbai are also a strong message to the BCCI… Don’t take the World Cup final away from Mumbai!” Thackeray wrote on X.
“It is the BCCI’s policy as to where the final will be held. It cannot necessarily be held in any particular city,” Shukla told PTI on Friday.
The semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai while the final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the world’s largest in terms of seating capacity.
“The 1987 World Cup final was also played in Kolkata and Kolkata is considered the Mecca. So, we cannot decide that it has to always be held in a particular city,” Shukla said.
“The semi-finals and finals are being played in Mumbai. Similarly, the stadium in Ahmedabad has a capacity of 130,000 and we will also be playing the matches at capacity,” he added.
“Kolkata (Eden Gardens) has a large capacity and can accommodate around 80,000 spectators (around 66,000). Other cities are similar.”
“This is a decision that purely keeps the entire country and all venues in mind. It cannot be limited to one venue,” explained a senior committee official.
Shukla stressed that it is not right to pick a particular venue for an important match.
He also praised Mumbai for turning out fans in large numbers for the open bus parade and praised the Mumbai Police for running the event efficiently.
“It was really good to see the reaction of the people of Mumbai. Mumbai will always be our top priority. Not that it won’t be. But the decision as a whole BCCI has to make as to where the final will be held, where the semi-final will be played… Every match matters,” he said.
“Mumbai has always been on our priority list. But to say all the finals should be held in one city… will never happen in any country,” Shukla added.