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'WC Final Cannot Always Be Given To A Particular City' - BCCI Vice President Hits Back At Shiv Sena Leader

Aaditya Thackeray and Rajiv Shukla (X.com)Aaditya Thackeray and Rajiv Shukla (X.com)

On 29th of June, Rohit Sharma and his men created history in Barbados by winning the World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. It was followed by some crazy celebration all over India and the victory parade in Mumbai turned out to be one memorable even with Mumbaikars leaving no stones unturned in applauding their champions.

Aaditya Thackeray, the member of Shiv Sena (UBT) then commented that the response by Mumbai to the victory parade is the reminder that one should never take away a World Cup final from Mumbai. He was taking a dig at BCCI for not keeping the 2023 World Cup final in Mumbai which India lost to Australia. 

However, the BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has now replied back to Thackeray by stating that one city cannot be prioritised for the final all the time. 

"It is BCCI’s policy that where the final should take place. It cannot always be given to a particular city."

Shukla also stated that the 1987 World Cup final was held in Kolkata which is considered as the Mecca of cricket and added that Ahmedabad now has the capacity of 1,30,000 which makes it a good venue for the final.

"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. 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. Kolkata (Eden Gardens) has got a big capacity, around 80,000 spectators (approx. 66,000) can be accommodated. Similarly, other cities also.

The BCCI vice-president also stated that the decision to select the venues is always made keeping in mind the whole country.

"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.

He also signed off by saying that Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is always in the priority list, but to expect that they will always get the final is not possible and it does not happen in any country.

“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.

India and Sri Lanka will host T20 World Cup 2026

India will now host the 2026 T20 World Cup along with Sri Lanka, and it would be interesting to see how the venues are distributed for that marquee tournament.