Thiruvananthapuram – The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president, Jayesh George, addressed concerns regarding the allocation of matches for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, stating that Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium secured more matches due to its high seating capacity. This statement comes in response to Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor’s disappointment over the exclusion of his constituency from the prestigious cricketing event.
George emphasized that the Ahmedabad Stadium, being the world’s largest stadium with a substantial seating capacity, naturally attracted more matches. Previously, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with its capacity of 60,000-70,000, received a significant number of matches. However, with Ahmedabad now offering state-of-the-art facilities and unparalleled infrastructure, it became the preferred choice for hosting a larger portion of the tournament.
The KCA president noted that Tharoor’s disappointment stemmed from not considering these factual aspects. Tharoor, representing the Congress party, had expressed his disappointment over Thiruvananthapuram missing out on hosting any World Cup matches, suggesting that the city, along with Mohali and Ranchi, should have been given the opportunity.
BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla clarified on Tuesday that the allocation of venues for the World Cup does not solely depend on the BCCI but requires the consent of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Shukla’s comments came in response to Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who objected to Mohali’s exclusion from the World Cup schedule and attributed it to political interference.
Shukla further explained that for the first time, the World Cup will be held across 12 venues, a departure from previous editions. Warm-up matches will take place in Trivandrum and Guwahati, while league matches will be spread across the remaining venues. The selection of 12 venues allowed for greater inclusion, with four from the South Zone, one from the Central Zone, two from the West Zone, and two from the North Zone (Delhi and Dharamshala).
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