BCCI Cannot Prioritise One City for Finals, Says Vice-President
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cannot give preferential treatment to any single city for hosting major finals, stated the board’s vice-president on Friday. This comment came in response to Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray’s recent demand to keep final matches in Mumbai.
Thackeray’s Appeal
Thackeray’s request followed the overwhelming turnout during the Indian cricket team’s T20 World Cup victory parade, which went from Marine Drive to the Wankhede Stadium. “Yesterday’s celebration in Mumbai is also a strong message to the BCCI… Never take away a World Cup final from Mumbai!” Thackeray had posted on X.
BCCI’s Stance
Rajeev Shukla, BCCI’s vice-president, responded to the demand, emphasizing the need for fair distribution of match venues. “It is BCCI’s policy that where the final should take place. It cannot always be given to a particular city,” Shukla told PTI.
Historical Venue Choices
Highlighting past decisions, Shukla noted that different cities have hosted significant matches. “The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal, while the final was held at the world’s largest stadium in Ahmedabad,” he explained. Shukla also mentioned the 1987 World Cup final held in Kolkata, reinforcing the point that finals should not be confined to one location.
Capacity Considerations
Shukla further elaborated on the factors influencing venue selection, such as stadium capacity. “Ahmedabad ground has a capacity of 1,30,000, and we go by capacity also,” he said. “Kolkata’s Eden Gardens can accommodate around 66,000 spectators. Other cities also have large capacities.”
National Perspective
The BCCI vice-president stressed that decisions are made with the entire country in mind. “This is purely a decision keeping in mind the entire country and all the venues. You cannot confine to one venue,” he said.
Praise for Mumbai Fans
Shukla praised Mumbai’s fans for their support during the victory parade and commended the Mumbai Police for their effective management. “We were really delighted to see Mumbaikars and their response. Mumbai is always our priority,” he stated.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Shukla reiterated that while Mumbai is important, it is impractical to host all finals in one city. “Every match is important, and it has to be decided by the entire BCCI where to host finals and semi-finals. Saying that all the finals should take place in one city never happens in any country,” he added.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)