Reports: Narendra Modi Stadium to host upcoming World Cup final; Wankhede to host one semi-final

According to the latest reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to host the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium and one of the semi-finals at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. The Indian cricket board will be hosting 48 World Cup games with 12 different venues likely to get four matches each.

India host the next ODI World Cup in October-November but the ICC is yet to announce an official schedule. Narendra Modi Stadium has a seating capacity of over 100,000 people and will be an ideal venue to host the final of the marquee event. The same venue is also hosting the curtain raiser of the upcoming Indian Premier League 2023 and is tipped to host the final as well.

Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosted the 2011 ODI World Cup final and a recent report suggests that the venue is likely to be awarded the hosting rights for the one semi-final match in the next World Cup. However, the same report also suggests that the high-voltage India-Pakistan game will be either given to Chennai or Delhi.

Bangladesh was not discussed at all at the Board meeting: ICC

Earlier today (March 29), the reports of Bangladesh hosting Pakistan's World Cup games, including the one against India, emerged. But the new reports add that the ICC and BCCI officials have denied such rumours. According to Cricbuzz, an ICC official, who was present at ICC's latest meeting with the BCCI, confirmed that India will be hosting all the games as planned.

"Bangladesh was not discussed at all at the Board meeting and full backing for the event in India was given by the Board. We're focused on that," an ICC official told Cricbuzz. Another source, an ICC board member, also revealed that the topic of Bangladesh hosting Pakistan's matches was never on agenda in the recent meeting.

"It was not discussed at the board. (It) may have been in one of the committees but never in my presence," an ICC board member said to Cricbuzz.