The Indian Cricket Board announced the venues and fixtures for the upcoming World Cup 2023 on Tuesday. The schedule was announced 100 days ahead of the prestigious tournament at a massive event in Mumbai. A total of 10 cities are set to host World Cup games, while India will play its nine matches at nine different venues.
Meanwhile, the political uproar started as the Punjab Sports Minister alleged that the Indian Cricket Board played politics while allotting games. AAP minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer criticised the Indian Cricket Board and said that the exclusion of Mohali from the list of host venues is purely due to political interference. “The exclusion of Punjab’s Mohali from the list of host cities for the tournament was due to political interference. The Punjab government will raise this issue with the board,” Hayer said in a video.
On the other hand, Kerala MP and senior Indian National Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also slammed Indian Cricket Board and said that Ahmedabad is becoming the new cricket capital of India. He said, “Disappointed to see that Thiruvananthapuram’s Sports Hub, hailed by many as the best cricket stadium in India, is missing from the #WorldCup2023 fixture list. Ahmedabad is becoming the new cricket capital of the country, but could a match or two not have been allotted to Kerala?”
India to kick off their campaign against Australia
According to the schedule released by the Apex Council, hosts India will start their World Cup campaign against Australia at Chepauk in Chennai on October 8. It will be followed by a match against Afghanistan in Delhi on the 11th. The Indian team under the leadership of Rohit Sharma will face arch-rival Pakistan at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 15. Meanwhile, the first game of the tournament will be played between England and New Zealand in Ahmedabad on October 5.
India is set to host the ODI World Cup after 12 years. In the marquee event, 10 teams will face each other in 48 matches in 45 days at 10 venues to decide the World Champion. Ahmedabad will host key matches, including the opening and final games. Mumbai and Kolkata are set to host two semifinals. It’s worth noting that Hyderabad is a single ground where India will not play any matches. India will face England in Guwahati in a warm-up match too.
Here is how fans react to Political comments about the CWC23 schedule:
Roger Binny is still at the helm, but only one game has been allotted to Chinnaswamy, and that game is also a useless match. The ground, which lacks a basic drainage system, gets important games. On what basis are Dharamshala and Chepauk getting games?
— Rajesh (@rajeshKA70) June 28, 2023
Who would want the important and big games to played and watched at a stadium with 25-30,000 capacity. ??
Politics is being played by this Punjab minister— MJGooner? (@ImMayurJindal) June 28, 2023
Too many moths there , good it’s not a venue of the World Cup ! Dharamshala deserves it more !
— Jaspreet Singh GujraL (@iamkingjaspreet) June 28, 2023
Yep, Motera is getting overused and and an Iconic venue like Mohali being left out is very sad.
— Danish (@danishiqbal__) June 28, 2023
Politicians ?
— Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) June 28, 2023
Aisa Karne Se Agr World Cup Jeet Sakte Ho Toh Acha Hai??
— Goat By Brain (@GoatByBrain) June 28, 2023
W , Mohali is one of the best stadium. These mc bjp ke t@tte bdsk
— Kohlified. (@123perthclassic) June 28, 2023
Even Hyderabad also not having single India match
This 2023 venue selection is totally biased
— . (@Hakunamatata474) June 28, 2023
Finally someone Speaking the truth Since Jay Shah has come into BCCI all the important matches are held in Ahmedabad . Dharmashala hosting so many matches because someone close to Anurag Thakur is inside the BCCI . Before matches were allotted as per rotation
— shivuvirat (@shivuvirat) June 28, 2023
Anand Dehati said, "Narendra Modi Stadium is hosting the opening game, the Final and also India and Pakistan. The Dharamsala hosting five games, but Jharkhand has not even got one. That makes it clear that politics is being played". (To PTI).
— Anand Dehati (@AnandDehati) June 28, 2023
Stadium banne to de bhai???
— The Big Lord (@TheBiglord09) June 28, 2023
Yes we used to see lot of Indian matches in back then in #Bengaluru but now a days we don’t see any priority to our ground just because of seating capacity.
It’s clearly world class ground in India with every match will filled for sure!— The Cyber Man (@BBBAhinda) June 28, 2023
Blud thinks bindra stadium is gonna host a WC match with 30k capacity
— Suhit (@_suhitians_) June 28, 2023
He is playing politics here, and the PCB board has played politics here by asking for venues in non BJP ruled states only exception being India vs Pak game.
— Jayesh (@Jayesh_45) June 28, 2023
Hyderabad and Bengaluru have been given with sub standard games and especially Hyderabad is deprived of India game.
That's how this Ahmedabad is given importance for every big game.
Why not Chennai or Kolkata or Bengaluru etc for big matches?
Big seating capacity isn't the reason— Deepu (@deepuGiant) June 28, 2023
Yep Mohali should have hosted but I reckon many states are not getting matches and that is bound to happen in a country like India . I think BCCI should compensate these stadiums by giving 2026 T20 wC rights to these nations . As India will host 3 ICC tournaments next cycle
— Abhisek@2816 (@AbhisekBChoudh2) June 28, 2023
Fact is that Mohali stadium (IS Bindra Stadium) is now defunct, whereas the new stadium being constructed at Mullanpur is in it's final stages of completion, meaning thereby that there's no stadium of international level available to host a match in Punjab
— Nilesh (@crimson_pants) June 28, 2023
What about Jharkhand?
— EleMent? (@Extracover7) June 28, 2023
When Gujarat peoples are in power.. They make use most of its power to develop Gujarat than India. Either it is Industry Investment or Sports cultural ceremonies.
— Sakthiey (@ImSakthiey) June 28, 2023
