Rajeev Shukla: BCCI Must Treat All Cities Equally for Key Matches

Aaditya Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena, demanded that the BCCI give priority to one city over another when it comes to organizing significant finals. On Friday, Vice-President Rajeev Shukla responded.

After the Indian cricket team’s triumphant T20 World Cup procession on Marine Drive to Wankhede Stadium drew enormous crowds, Thackeray had pleaded with the BCCI not to “take away” any Mumbai final games.

“Yesterday’s celebration in Mumbai is also a strong message to the BCCI… Never take away a World Cup final from Mumbai!,” Thackeray had written 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 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal was held at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, while the championship match was held in Ahmedabad, home of the world’s largest stadium in terms of seating capacity.

“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 stated that holding important matches at a single location will not be appropriate.

He also commended Mumbai supporters for attending the open bus procession in great numbers and complimented the Mumbai Police for organizing the event so well.

“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

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