Punjab minister sheds light on Mohali not being part of the ODI World Cup 2023 venues

 The apex cricket council and Indian Cricket Board released the World Cup 2023 schedule on June 27, and the competition is scheduled to begin exactly 100 days from that date. The big tournament will take place in up to ten cities over the period of 46 days, with an overall 48 matches scheduled. Mohali did not receive one competitive game for the 2023 World Cup, unlike the 2011 World Cup.

When India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh shared hosting duties for the World Cup in 2011, IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali served as the site for three games. Additionally, the tournament's flagship match between India and Pakistan, which served as the semifinal, was played at Mohali.

Punjab government will raise this issue with BCCI: Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer

Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, the sports minister for Punjab, has criticised the scheduling for not allowing the venue to host a game this time around. He asserted that politics prevented Mohali from hosting World Cup games this year and said he will bring up the matter to the notice of the Indian Cricket Board and would want a proper justification.

He said, “The exclusion of Punjab's Mohali from the list of host cities for the tournament was due to political interference. Punjab government will raise this issue with BCCI."

However, none of the three World Cup matches that will be played in Hyderabad will feature the host nation. The matches, which will take place on October 6, 9, and 12, will pit Pakistan against two qualifiers and New Zealand against one qualification team.

The highly awaited encounter involving India and Pakistan will be taking place in Ahmedabad on Sunday, October 15, according to the schedule. India achieved a massive victory in Manchester in their final World Cup match, which was a high-scoring contest. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5, England will play New Zealand in a replay of the 2019 World Cup Final.