We pushed for it really hard but could not get a game: Punjab Cricket Stadium on ICC World Cup venue snub

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the highly anticipated schedule for the 2023 Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup, revealing the 10 venues that will host matches during the tournament.

The tournament will kick off on October 5 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium and conclude with the final on November 19 at the same venue. Mumbai and Kolkata have been selected to host the semifinals on November 15 and 16, respectively.

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While the selection of these venues has been based on various factors, including zone-wise distribution and the recommendations of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), several major cities have expressed disappointment at missing out on hosting World Cup fixtures. Notable omissions include Mohali, Indore, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Nagpur. Officials from these venues have voiced their discontent, highlighting their rich cricketing history and past contributions to previous World Cups.

The exclusion of Mohali, which hosted the iconic India-Pakistan semifinal in the 2011 edition, has sparked disappointment among cricket enthusiasts. Concerns have been raised about the selection process, with some suggesting that political factors may have influenced the allocation of matches.

It seems only metros and cities where the office bearers are from have got games. We pushed for it really hard but could not get a game. Disappointing not to get even a practice game – Punjab Cricket Association (hindustantimes)