On Shashi Tharoor's World Cup Venues Complaint, BCCI's Retort

According to The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source, 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 not just focus on the south region as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai are being selected as the venues. "There are matches in the south like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai - total have to be 10 venues so can't concentrate everything in 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 on Tuesday said that Thiruvananthapuram, Mohali and Ranchi should have been given an opportunity to hold a World Cup match. He also said that it is 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 an 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 BCCI," Tharoor said.

On Tharoor's remark, a BCCI source said that if Tharoor is keen to have matches in Kerala then try to get the stadium under the control of the state association as it is currently under IL&FS's control.

"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 the headache of getting extra permissions?," a BCCI source said.

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