'Phele apne facilities ko improve karoo' - Fans react to Punjab sports minister's 'politics is being played' remark as Mohali misses out on hosting 2023 ODI World Cup

Punjab Sports Minister (Source: Twitter)

The Cricket Governing Body on Tuesday announced the schedule for the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup. The finalists of the last edition – England and New Zealand – will lock horns in the curtain raiser of the 50-over tournament on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. A total of 48 matches are slated to take place over the period of 46 days, with up to 10 cities chosen to host the marquee event.

The 10-team tournament will be held in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Dharamsala, Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata. Hyderabad will also host the warm-up matches from 29 September to 3 October, along with Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram. Notably, some popular venues such as Mohali, Indore, Rajkot, Ranchi and Nagpur did not get the hosting rights.

Usually, metro cities will get to host the World Cup games, and matches are allocated zone-wise as well. However, not getting a single match at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, which hosted the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan, disappointed the Punjab Cricket Association, the Punjab Sports Minister and, of course, their fans.

A source in the Punjab Cricket Association, which has been hosting World Cup games since 1996, said, "It seems only metros and cities where the office bearers are from have got games. We pushed for it really hard but could not get a game. Disappointing not to get even a practice game."

One of the top five venues in the country has not got a single game: Punjab sports minister 

Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said it was disappointing that Mohali, being one of India's top five venues, could not host even a warm-up match, claiming that there was clear "politics being played".

“It is good that World Cup is coming to India but it is sad that a stadium which has produced many superstars of Indian cricket, a stadium that used to be among the top five venues in the country, has not got a single game," said minister Gurmeet Singh.

“On the other hand, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is hosting the opening game as well as the final and also the big game between India and Pakistan. To the neighbouring Dharamsala as well, you are giving them five games, but Punjab has not got even one. That makes it clear that politics is being played,” he added.

Here's how fans reacted to the Punjab sports minister's statements: 

Mohali deserved a game…

— Suvra (@suvradeep_ghosh) June 28, 2023

Atleast some warm up matches should be played at this iconic venue

— hamid altaf (@Hamidaltaf59Al) June 28, 2023

After the gujju guy Jay Shah became chairman, he is taking away everything to Ahmedabad, Mumbai would have been ideal to host finals

— ಆದರ್ಶ Adarsh (@adarsh_938) June 28, 2023

50+stadium's in india
It's not possible to play everywhere .

— BETA 93K (@belowthebelt56) June 28, 2023

Yep, Motera is getting overused and and an Iconic venue like Mohali being left out is very sad.

— Danish (@danishiqbal__) June 28, 2023

Phele apne facilities ko improve karoo lighte wagera jalaoo

— Manish (@Manish34979121) June 28, 2023

Who would want the important and big games to played and watched at a stadium with 25-30,000 capacity. 🙃🙄
Politics is being played by this Punjab minister

— MJGooner📢 (@ImMayurJindal) June 28, 2023

Yes 1-2 match to mohali me krwa dete ,

— lakhbir (@Lakhbir_44) June 28, 2023