BCCI Secretary Jay Shah (Photo Credits: AFP)
The BCCI is also looking to upgrade facilities extensively at the stadiums selected for the 2023 edition of the 50-over World Cup.
The venues for the 2023 World Cup in India will be announced at an event during the World Test Championship final in London. India will take on Australia in the title clash at The Oval from June 7 and an announcement about the World Cup venues and schedule is likely around the same period. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already shortlisted the venues with a few options, but no final decision has been taken yet.
There will be a press conference and it will be in London around the World Test Championship final. The complete schedule for the tournament will also be revealed,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said after the BCCI SGM in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
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“The venue list has been prepared but is yet to be finalised. We have kept options of three-four places. So soon they will be finalized. Metro cities will be the preferred destination and we really cannot ignore them.”
There was no word on Pakistan’s participation in the 50-over World Cup 2023. ICC General Manager Wasim Khan had said in March that there was a possibility of Pakistan playing their World Cup matches at neutral venues. This was later denied by the global cricketing body and according to industry sources, the two teams are most likely to meet at the Narendra Modi Stadium and Chennai has also been kept as a backup.
“There will be India vs Pakistan. The Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to host that game and Chennai has also been kept as a backup for the marquee clash,” says a board official.
improve features
The Indian Cricket Board is planning to drastically improve the facilities of the stadium. While newer places like Lucknow and Ahmedabad are up to desirable standards, there is a lot of work to be done in some of the older centres.
“Money is coming into the BCCI but the facilities in some of the stadiums are not up to that level. Ahmedabad, Dharamshala, Indore, Lucknow are some of the well-maintained stadiums, but we need to bring other stadiums at par with them,” says Shah.
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To streamline its approach, the BCCI has taken Grant Thornton International on board and has already received reports on 16 stadiums. The board will later consult about 15 more stadiums but World Cup venues will remain the priority.
“We have also taken GT (Grant Thornton International) on board which will initially deal with 15 stadiums and then we will expand. They have already given us the report of 16 stadiums and will then address 15 more stadiums. Once the list is finalised, the first priority will be the World Cup venues and then we will move on to other venues.”
The world’s richest cricket board is looking to improve the fan experience for the mega event later this year and “fan engagement” will remain the motto. The BCCI secretary said that a committee will be formed and each office-bearer will be responsible for each venue.
“Everything. Basically the fans love the game, that is, we are getting so much revenue from it. We need reciprocity. The best level of fan engagement is the motto. The House agreed and it was unanimous. So We will form a committee. We have not constituted it yet and by next week we will announce that committee.
