Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice chairman Rajeev Shukla mentioned loads of centres and zones have been accommodated within the recently-released ICC Cricket World Cup schedule and Mohali, Punjab not getting a single match within the event is as a result of the present stadium in Mohali didn’t meet the requirements of ICC, whose consent is extraordinarily essential in finalising the venues for the event. Shukla’s assertion comes after Punjab Sports activities Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer had raised objections to the exclusion of Mohali from the WC schedule.

“The exclusion of Punjab’s Mohali from the listing of host cities for the event was as a consequence of political interference. Punjab authorities will elevate this concern with BCCI,” Hayer had mentioned.

Punjab Sports activities Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer condemns the exclusion of Mohali from the listing of cities to host the ICC Cricket World Cup-2023

“The exclusion of Punjab’s Mohali from the listing of host cities for the event was as a consequence of political interference. Punjab authorities… pic.twitter.com/R7RVCejMfE

— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2023

Shukla mentioned that this time 12 venues have been chosen for the mega cricketing occasion, one thing which has not occurred earlier than.

“For the primary time, 12 venues have been chosen for World Cup. Earlier, these many venues weren’t chosen in earlier World Cups. Out of those 12 venues, warm-up matches might be held in Trivandrum and Guwahati, remaining venues may have league matches. Extra centres have been accommodated.

From South Zone 4 venues, from central zone one venue, West Zone two, North Zone two venues. Delhi and Dharamshala will host the matches (In North Zone),” mentioned Shukla in an unique interview with ANI.

Shukla mentioned that bilateral sequence matches might be given to Mohali and there might be no discrimination.

“Virat Kohli’s a centesimal Take a look at final yr was given to Mohali. Mullanpur Stadium is preparing in Mohali. Had it been prepared, they might have gotten a World Cup match. The present stadium in Mohali didn’t meet the requirements of ICC and therefore was denied matches. However that doesn’t matches wouldn’t be given to them. Bilateral sequence matches might be given to them, it’s based mostly on a rotational system. No ‘choose and selecting’ has been accomplished. ICC’s consent is essential in finalising the venues. In Trivandrum, warm-up matches have been given, for the primary time. It isn’t that any centre/zone has been ignored. Stadiums have been chosen after loads of consideration, even in North East Zone, Guwahati received the matches. Quite a lot of lodging has been accomplished within the schedule,” he added.

On the World Cup schedule, Shukla mentioned that new venues have been added this time round.

“Lucknow has been added. Uttar Pradesh by no means received an opportunity to host a World Cup match. Guwahati has been given an opportunity. Many venues from the South have been added. A good quantity of consideration was given earlier than venues have been finalised. ICC has to approve these venues. It isn’t purely in our palms. All these elevating objections ought to realise that we’d like consent from ICC to select up these venues,” he mentioned.

Shukla on a concluding word mentioned that the World Cup might be profitable and result in revival of the ODI format on a worldwide stage.