Eden Gardens

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been inspecting the various venues for the World Cup that is scheduled to begin on the 19^th of February 2011. On the course of this inspection it was concluded that Eden Gardens in Kolkata is not ready to hold the match between India and England on the 27^th of February.

Everybody knows that Eden Gardens is one on the best stadiums in India, the stadium during matches are packed to say the least, almost as filled as a sardine box. The atmosphere there is incomparable, it is considered to be in the same ranks as the MCG and Lords. The fact that a match of such magnitude and with countries who are dying to play each other with so much to prove can’t play in the countries best cricket grounds, it is depressing indeed.

The CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) appealed to the ICC, they asked them to give them time till February 7^th to get everything in order. This plea was rejected by the ICC on Friday; the reason for the rejection was also given by the ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat to the president of the BCCI Shashank Manohar. Apparently, the cause of the rejection to the CAB is that experts that were sent in to carry out the inspections revealed that the unfinished renovations in the Eden Gardens will not be able to be completed by the 7^th of February.

Eden Gardens was to host 4 matches in the grounds but with the cancelation of one of them the next three will also require some examination from the ICC, they will discuss the future of those matches on Monday as per new reports.

One would have thought given the drama that unfolded before the Common Wealth Games with everything being incomplete from roads to toilet paper the various cricket associations would have been on their toes for the completion of the venues, but sadly that was not to be.

It is unfair to blame the ICC for this severe step as it is their duty to keep everything in order since obviously the CAB doesn’t know how to. It is right to assume that something the CAB couldn’t complete in a span of two years, 10days will not be enough. The ICC unfortunately doesn’t know how a country like ours functions, everything is done last minute.

Talks between the BCCI and the ICC are on going, as now they are left to decide what venue will be chosen to have the match between India and England. The ICC president, Sharad Pawar has suggested that the venue be switched to Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium if the decision on Eden Gardens is final.

The BCCI however feels that they have enough alternatives to chose from that of Mohali, Delhi, Bangalore, Nagpur, Mumbai, Chennai and Ahemdabad all will be more than happy to be able to host that match.

A very pretty picture was painted regarding the Eden Gardens; everyone couldn’t have even dreamed that such a problem would take place. A cricket crazed country like India would not have one of its key venues ready, a shame for the CAB but a shame for all of us as well.

The question to ask is if a country so obsessed with cricket can’t prepare a world class stadium in time then what hope is there for other sports?

Tags: BCCI, CAB, Cricket, Cricket Association Of Bengal, Eden Gardens, England, ICC, India, International Cricket Council, Kolkata