By Kirti Patil
Pune: City’s cricket aficionados are in for a massive treat with the International cricket Council (ICC) allotting five league matches of the men’s Cricket World Cup to the scenic MCA International Stadium in Gahunje, located on the outskirts of Pune.
It will be after a gap of 27 years that an ICC cricket world match will be hosted in Pune. Of the five matches four will be day-night contests including the India versus Bangladesh game scheduled on October 19. Australia will play Bangladesh on November 12 in the only day match allotted to Pune, which was witness to the historic world cup match between the West Indies and Kenya played at the Nehru stadium. The game entered the annals of one of the biggest upsets as Kenya went on to beat the Caribbeans by 73 runs after putting up just 166 on the board.
The announcement of Pune being given to host five matches was made on Tuesday in the presence of the BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah. ”I am thankful to Jay Shah “ in putting forward Pune’s bid for the games,” said the MCA president Rohit Pawar.
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) will swing into action for the big event after the final of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL), currently being played at the venue. The MPL final is on June 29.
“It is a great honour and responsibility to get an opportunity to host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and we are delighted about it,” MCA president Rohit Pawar said before adding, “We at MCA would like to thank the ICC and BCCI for giving us this opportunity to organize the biggest cricketing event.”
Between 1996 and now 2023, India hosted the world cup once more—2011 but Pune was ignored as the MCA Stadium was yet to be built and the MCA was struggling with internal conflicts of one upmanship. The underused Nehru stadium had by then become a part of relic, much like central Pune city.
2023 World Cup games in Pune:
Oct 19: India vs Bangladesh
Oct 30: Afghanistan vs Qualifier 2
Nov 01: New Zealand vs South Africa
Nov 08: England vs Qualifier 1
Nov 12: Australia vs Bangladesh*
Except for Aus vs Bangladesh (10.30 am), all other games will start at 2 pm
