NEW DELHI: The BCCI cannot prioritize one city over another for hosting major finals, said the board’s vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Friday in response to Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray’s recent demand.
Thackeray had called for future World Cup finals to be held in Mumbai following a massive public turnout during the Indian cricket team’s victory parade on Thursday.
“Yesterday’s celebration in Mumbai is also a strong message to the BCCI…Never take away a World Cup final from Mumbai!,” Thackeray wrote on X.
“It is BCCI’s policy that where the final should take place. It cannot always be given to a particular city,” Shukla told PTI on Friday.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal, while the final was held at the world’s largest Narendra Modi stadium by seating capacity in Ahmedabad.
“There has been a final match — 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 emphasized that choosing a specific venue for key matches would not be correct.
He also praised the fans in Mumbai for their large turnout during the open bus parade and commended the Mumbai Police for efficiently managing the event.
“We were really delighted to see Mumbaikars and their response. Mumbai is always our priority. It’s not that (it is not). But it has to be decided by the entire BCCI, where to host finals, where to have semi-finals… Every match is important,” he said.
“Mumbai is always on our priority list. But saying that all the finals should take place in one city… It never happens in any country,” Shukla added.
