ICC World Cup 2023: "Mohali Is Always The First Choice Of Cricket Fans" - Punjab Sports Minister Writes To BCCI President Roger Binny, Urging Him To Allot Few Matches

Published - 01 Jul 2023, 01:03 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

[PC: Getty]

Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer wrote to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny related to the snub of Mohli as the venue for ICC World Cup 2023 matches. He urged the former Indian cricketer to allot a few matches to Punjab, saying that there was “no sense of fair play” in the scheduling of matches.

BCCI along with ICC recently announced the schedule for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which is slated to take place from 5th October in India. For the first time in a long, Mohli wasn’t part of the selected venues for the tournament as the governing body went with just 10 stadiums.

The cities that will host the World Cup are Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata. However, quite a few reputed venues in India, that have been hosting games for India regularly missed out. Mohali along with Indore, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Nagpur are among those.

Also Read: ICC World Cup Schedule 2023 ODI, India 2023, Venue, PDF 2023. Date, Group, Match List, Time Table, Team List, Squad India

This has led to massive controversy as major state associations in India have expressed their disappointment after missing out on the hosting rights for the ICC World Cup 2023. Talking about Punjab, BCCI had said that Mohali does not meet the standards set by ICC and hence has not been allotted any World Cup matches.

Punjab Sports Minister expressed his disappointment and highlighted how the state of Punjab has given the Indian team some brilliant talents, who have taken the nation to great heights. Writing in an official letter, he said (as quoted by ANI):

“Punjab is renowned throughout the length and breadth of the globe for its age-old traditions of peerless bravery, unmatched hospitality and unwavering faith in secular ideals. This land of warriors blessed by Gurus, Saints, Philosophers, and Poets has nurtured the ideals of peace, compassion, and communal amity since the primordial times,

“In the sporting arena too, Punjab has the distinction of being the frontrunner and flag bearer of the Nation. When it comes to the National craze i.e. Cricket, Punjab has the honour of producing legends viz.,

Lala Amarnath, Bishan Singh Bedi Mohinder Amarnath, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Reetinder Sodhi, Dinesh Mongia, Harvinder Singh, Vikram Rathore, Sharandeep Singh and the latest sensations Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh, the list is endless.”

Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023 Team List

ICC World Cup 2023: “No sense of fair play in the scheduling of matches,” says Punjab Sports Minister

Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer further went on to say that he wants to know why Mohali doesn’t meet the expectations of the ICC as they have hosted some big games. He stated that Mohali is the first choice of cricket fans and added that no sense of fair play in the scheduling of matches. He explained (as quoted by ANI):

“I (Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer) want to know what the ICC criteria are based on which Mohali was considered ineligible for the match. Apart from this, any change made in the norms at present should also be brought to light as the India-Australia International T20 match was played in September 2022. Besides, ODI World Cup matches including two semi-finals were also played in the past.

“It should also be stated whether the ICC team visited the Mohali Stadium to inspect the standards? Mohali is always the first choice of cricket fans. Mohali has an international airport and the city also has better infrastructure and adequate hotels for the teams to stay. However, the schedule for the upcoming ICC World Cup-2023 to be held in October and November this year is sans any allotment of matches to Punjab which belies completely the sense of fair play.”

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has taken everyone by excitement ever since ICC announced the schedule for the tournament. The event will kick start from 5th October with the final set to take place on 19th November. Coming to the Indian cricket team, they will play their first game on 8th October against Australia.

Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule