Putting an end to days of confusion and speculation, the BCCI, on Friday, finally shifted the fourth ODI between India and West Indies to the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. According to the original schedule, Wankhede Stadium was set to host the game.
The prime reason behind the tussle between the BCCI and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) was the complimentary passes. MCA was not the only association who were at loggerheads with BCCI over the issue. The cricket associations of Madhya Pradesh and Bengal had also also made it clear they would not accept the BCCI’s new rule regarding the complimentary passes.
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According to the new BCCI constitution, 90 per cent tickets of the total seating capacity has to be put on sale for the public. And the state associations could distribute only 10 per cent of tickets as complimentary passes. The new rule, however, did not please the associations. And they did not hesitate in making their displeasures clear.
The second ODI between India and West Indies has already been shifted to Visakhapatnam from Indore. Complimentary passes were the reason behind this too.
And MCA also stood firm that it would not receive the 600 complimentary passes that were on offer from the BCCI. Another reason behind the shifting of the venue was that the association was without a head since mid-September.
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“We haven’t taken any decision so far. But 600 tickets just won’t be enough for us. We need 7,000 tickets. Because we need to give them to all our (330) club members, donors, Government of Maharashtra, police, fire brigade, sports department, PWD,” an MCA source had told TOI.
With chaos surrounding the MCA, the BCCI finally decided to shift the venue.
“Under the instructions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India appointed Committee of Administrators, the fourth One-day International match between India and Windies scheduled on 29th October at Wankhede Stadium has been shifted to Cricket Club of India, Mumbai,” reads a release from the BCCI.
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This will be the first international game at the Brabourne Stadium since the 2009 Test between India and Sri Lanka.
The ODI series will get underway on October 21 in Guwahati. Here is the revised schedule:
| ODI | Date | Venue |
| 1st | 21st October | Guwahati |
| 2nd | 24th October | Visakhapatnam |
| 3rd | 27th October | Pune |
| 4th | 29th October | CCI, Mumbai |
| 5th | 1st November | Thiruvananthapuram |