The West Bengal government criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday for moving the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoff and final matches from Kolkata to Gujarat, alleging that the decision was politically motivated. State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, in a statement issued late on Sunday evening, reiterated his previous comments made during a press conference regarding the political influences behind relocating the matches from Eden Gardens. “Recent developments have further illuminated this issue,” he said. Biswas explained that the satellite data used by the BCCI and the IPL governing body, which was presented as a meteorological assessment, indicated a chance of rain in Kolkata during this period. As a result, the playoffs and final were moved to Gujarat. However, Biswas claimed that it has become increasingly clear that this satellite report was not solely based on weather conditions but was influenced by political considerations. He stated, “Today, it is clear that cricket fans in Kolkata have been unjustly deprived of this significant sporting event due to political motives. The same satellite that forecasted potential rain in Kolkata failed to recognize the possibility of rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat.” Biswas emphasized that this discrepancy highlights that the decision was not based on meteorological factors but rather on a politically motivated agenda aimed at sidelining Bengal. The BCCI had previously announced that the second qualifier and the IPL final, scheduled for June 1 and 3 respectively, would be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad instead of Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Biswas also mentioned last week that the BCCI’s decision violated the IPL rule that the previous year’s champions’ home ground would host the final.