Can’t concentrate only on south region: BCCI

According to a source at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Thiruvananthapuram did not get a chance to host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 because there can only be 10 venues for the tournament and they can’t just focus on the south region as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai are being selected as the venues.

“There are matches in the south like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai; the total has to be 10 venues, so we can’t concentrate everything in the south,” a BCCI source said. Ten teams will feature in this biggest Cricket World Cup ever, to be played across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final. The event will feature 48 matches to be played across 46 days.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor said on Tuesday that Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali, and Ranchi should have been given the opportunity to hold a World Cup match. He also said that it was a big mistake on the part of BCCI.

“It’s a long tournament. They could have spread the joy a little better. Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali, and Ranchi should have been given the opportunity to hold a World Cup match. It is not necessary for any one venue to get 4–5 matches. This is a big mistake on the part of BCC,” Tharoor said.

“If Tharoor is so keen to get a match in Kerela, can he first get the stadium under the control of the state association? Why is it under the control of ILFS, and why should BCCI take on the headache of getting extra permissions,” a BCCI source said.

“In other countries, there are only a total of 6-7 venues, but the ICC allowed us more because we are a big country, so we can’t make everyone happy,” the source further added.