No Cricket World Cup Match at Mohali because the Venue Fails ICC Standards

The Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali has missed out on hosting any matches in the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup due to its failure to meet the standards set by the International Cricket Council (ICC), according to BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla.

Mohali, renowned for hosting the thrilling 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan, which the hosts triumphed in, and the 1996 World Cup semi-final between Australia and West Indies, faced objections from Punjab’s Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer regarding its omission from the World Cup schedule.

“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,” stated Hayer. However, Shukla clarified that this time, a total of 12 venues have been chosen for the World Cup, with warm-up matches scheduled for Trivandrum and Guwahati.

Explaining the selection process, Shukla said, “Stadiums have been chosen after a lot of consideration. ICC has to approve these venues. It is not purely in our hands.” He further emphasized that while Mohali’s current stadium failed to meet ICC standards, bilateral series matches would still be allocated to the city based on a rotational system.

Shukla also mentioned the upcoming Mullanpur Stadium in Mohali, expressing regret that its unavailability prevented it from hosting World Cup matches. He assured that no discrimination had been made, as evidenced by Mohali hosting Virat Kohli’s 100th Test last year.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to kick off on October 5 with a match between defending champions England and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ten teams will compete across 10 venues, culminating in the final, also held in Ahmedabad, on November 19. The tournament will span 46 days, featuring 48 matches in total.

India’s campaign will commence on October 8 with a match against Australia in Chennai. Apart from Ahmedabad and Chennai, the host cities include Bengaluru, Delhi, Dharamsala, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Pune. In addition to Hyderabad, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram have been selected to host the practice matches, reflecting the extensive planning and considerations taken into account for this grand event.

ICC Cricket World Cup Matches Played at Mohali

Mohali Stadium, officially known as the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, has hosted several exciting matches during various ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments and the World Twenty20. Here’s a brief overview of the matches held at Mohali Stadium:

1996 Cricket World Cup Semifinal:

The Mohali Stadium hosted a semifinal match of the 1996 Cricket World Cup between India and Sri Lanka on March 13, 1996. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, setting a target of 252 runs for India. However, rain interrupted the Indian innings, and they were set a revised target of 237 runs in 47 overs. Despite a valiant effort by the Indian batsmen, they fell short by 22 runs, and Sri Lanka advanced to the final.

2011 Cricket World Cup Matches:

The Mohali Stadium was one of the venues for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which India eventually won. It hosted three matches during the tournament:

• India vs. Netherlands (March 9, 2011): India batted first and posted a formidable total of 296 runs. In reply, the Netherlands could only manage 189 runs, resulting in a comfortable victory for India by 87 runs.
• India vs. Australia (March 24, 2011): This was a high-stakes quarterfinal match between two cricketing powerhouses. Batting first, India set a target of 261 runs. The Indian bowlers put up an exceptional performance, restricting Australia to 260 runs, winning the match by 5 wickets and securing a place in the semifinals.
• Semifinal: India vs. Pakistan (March 30, 2011): One of the most highly anticipated matches in cricketing history, this clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan captivated millions of fans. India batted first and scored 260 runs. In response, Pakistan could only manage 231 runs, resulting in a thrilling victory for India by 29 runs. India advanced to the final and eventually lifted the World Cup trophy.

2016 World Twenty20 Matches:

Mohali Stadium hosted three matches during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, which was held in India:

• New Zealand vs. Pakistan (March 22, 2016): In this group stage match, New Zealand batted first and scored 180 runs. Pakistan, in their chase, fell short by 22 runs, with New Zealand emerging victorious.
• Australia vs. Pakistan (March 25, 2016): This group stage encounter saw Australia post a mammoth total of 193 runs. In reply, Pakistan struggled and could only manage 172 runs, leading to a 21-run victory for Australia.
• Semifinal: England vs. New Zealand (March 30, 2016): In a tightly contested semifinal match, England batted first and scored 159 runs. New Zealand fought hard but could only reach 153 runs, resulting in a 7-run victory for England. They advanced to the final of the tournament.

These matches at Mohali Stadium have witnessed some intense cricketing action and contributed to the rich history of the ICC Cricket World Cup and the World Twenty20.