New Delhi: In response to Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray’s demand of never taking away a World Cup final from Mumbai, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Friday said that the board cannot prioritise one city over another when it comes to organising important finals.
After a massive turnout during Indian cricket team’s T20 World Cup parade in Mumbai, Thackeray had urged BCCI to not ‘take away’ any final match from Mumbai.
Here’s what Thackeray wrote on X.
“Yesterday’s celebration in Mumbai is also a strong message to the BCCI… Never take away a World Cup final from Mumbai!,” said Thackeray.
Meanwhile, Shukla replied by saying that “It is BCCI’s policy that where the final should take place. It cannot always be given to a particular city,”.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal whereas the world’s largest stadium in terms of sitting capacity, in Ahmedabad, was the venue for the final.
“There has been a final match in 1987 World Cup in Kolkata also, and Kolkata is considered as Mecca. So it can’t be decided that it should always happen in a particular city,” Shukla said.
“There are semi-finals and finals which have taken place in Mumbai. Similarly, Ahmedabad ground has got a capacity of 1,30,000, and we go by capacity also,” he continued.
“Kolkata (Eden Gardens) has got a big capacity, around 80,000 spectators (approx. 66,000) can be accommodated. Similarly, other cities also. This is purely a decision keeping in mind the entire country and all the venues. You cannot confine to one venue,” explained the senior board official.
Shukla said it will not be correct to remain confined to a specific venue for hosting key matches. He also praised fans in Mumbai for turning up in large numbers for the open bus parade and hailed the Mumbai Police for smoothly managing the show.
(With PTI inputs)
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has said that it’s difficult for BCCI to prioritise one city over another to host key matches. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
