NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday took aim at the International Cricket Council (ICC) for selecting Ahmedabad in neighbouring Gujarat as the host city for the T20 World Cup final, alleging politics and favoritism played a role in the decision.

In a post on X, Thackeray questioned why Mumbai, India's financial capital and a major cricketing hub, was overlooked for the marquee match scheduled early next year.

The ICC had unveiled the full schedule of the 55-match tournament on Monday, which will be played across eight venues-five in India and three in Sri Lanka.

The 20-team tournament, featuring debutants Italy, will see teams split into four groups of five. Eight sides will advance to the Super Eight stage, with the top four then moving on to the semi-finals, set to be held in either Kolkata, Colombo, or Mumbai.

The Indian government has suspended all bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, while still allowing encounters between the two countries in multinational tournaments.

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The final will take place in either Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on Pakistan's qualification.

"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? Has this been a traditional cricket venue? Why not Mumbai? Wankhede (stadium in Mumbai) will be the absolute best venue for a T20 World Cup final. Remember 2011? The one in Ahmedabad has already hosted a World Cup final. Expecting the @ICC not to indulge in politics and favouritism," said the former state minister.

Thackeray maintained some other venues in India are also capable of hosing the final match.

"Likewise, Eden Gardens - Kolkata, MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chennai, IS Bindra - Mohali' -- all of these are good to host the T20 World Cup Finals. But due to this sudden politics of favouritism, we face injustice," he said on X.

The Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai has a seating capacity of 33,500, while the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad can host 1.32 lakh cricket fans.

(With PTI Inputs)