Political Storm Erupts Over ICC's Venue Selection
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has launched a scathing criticism against the International Cricket Council for designating Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium as the venue for the 2026 T20 World Cup final. The young politician accused the global cricket governing body of engaging in "sudden politics of favouritism" with its decision.
Thackeray's Strong Opposition on Social Media
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Thackeray expressed his disappointment with the ICC's continuous preference for Ahmedabad. "So the T20 World Cup fixture is out. Guess where the Final is scheduled? Ahmedabad. What's this fascination of pulling every single final there?" he questioned.
The Shiv Sena leader reminded cricket enthusiasts that Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, which witnessed India's historic 2011 World Cup victory, represents a more natural choice for hosting global cricket finals. He emphasized that the Narendra Modi Stadium previously hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup final where India suffered defeat against Australia.
Call for Fair Distribution of Major Matches
Thackeray described the repeated selection of Ahmedabad as "injustice" to other historic cricket venues across India. He specifically mentioned several iconic stadiums that equally deserve to host prestigious matches:
- Kolkata's Eden Gardens
- Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium
- Mohali's IS Bindra Stadium
The politician urged the ICC to avoid indulging in politics and favouritism when making such significant decisions about match venues.
2026 T20 World Cup Tournament Details
The International Cricket Council officially revealed the complete tournament schedule during a high-profile event in Mumbai on Tuesday. The 2026 T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
The tournament will utilize eight different venues - five located in India and three in Sri Lanka. The world's largest cricket arena, Narendra Modi Stadium, is scheduled to host the championship match on March 8, but with one significant condition.
According to an ICC agreement, if Pakistan qualifies for the semifinals or final, those crucial knockout matches will be relocated to Colombo instead of Ahmedabad.
The tournament schedule confirms that India will begin their title defense campaign on February 7 in Mumbai against the United States. The much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash is set for February 15 in Colombo.
With 20 competing teams participating across 40 group-stage matches following a packed three-games-per-day format, the World Cup promises an exciting month of high-octane cricket action. However, Thackeray's allegations of favoritism have currently shifted focus from the cricket itself to the controversy surrounding venue selection.
