New Delhi: Shifting the IPL 2025 final from Kolkata to Ahmedabad was a politically motivated decision from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, West Bengal’s sports minister Aroop Biswas has claimed.
The final and play-offs was initially scheduled to be held in Kolkata at Eden Gardens, the home ground of last year’s champion Kolkata Knight Riders.
But once the tournament resumed on May 17 after temporary suspension following cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the BCCI shifted the final and play-offs to Ahmedabad with a new match schedule of June 1 and June 3, respectively.
Reports suggest that rain forecasts were behind BCCI’s decision to relocate the matches to Ahmedabad. But Biswas blamed political considerations to be behind the decision rather than weather conditions.
“I previously addressed the media during a press conference regarding the political motivations behind the decision to relocate the playoffs and final matches from Eden Gardens. Recent developments have further illuminated this issue,” Biswas said in a statement issued late on Sunday.
“The satellite data utilised by the BCCI and the IPL governing body, which was presented as a meteorological assessment, indicated a likelihood of rain in Kolkata during this period. Consequently, the playoffs and final were moved to Gujarat.”
Biswas pointed out that rain delayed start of the Qualifier 2 clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
“Today, it is clear that cricket fans in Kolkata have been unjustly deprived of this significant sporting event due to political motives. The same satellite that forecasted potential rain in Kolkata failed to recognise the possibility of rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat,” Biswas said.
He also mentioned that “discrepancy underscores” that the decision was not taken keeping in mind meteorological factors, “but rather by a politically motivated agenda aimed at sidelining Bengal”.
Biswas had earlier said that relocation of match violated the IPL’s rule of defending champions’ home ground being used as venue to host the final.
The BCCI is yet to comment on the matter.
Reports suggest that rain forecasts were behind BCCI’s decision to relocate the IPL final from Kolkata to Ahmedabad. But Aroop Biswas blamed political considerations to be behind the decision rather than weather conditions. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
