Kolkata’s Eden Gardens has been dropped as the venue of the high-profile India v England match at next month’s World Cup due to delays in renovation work. A venue inspection team, which included the tournament director, members of the Central Organising Committe (COC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), on Thursday reported on the readiness of five outstanding venues scheduled to host matches in the World Cup 2011. “Following the inspection tour, the three Sri Lanka venues – Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele – as well as Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai have been approved subject to minor finishing work being completed within specified time frames not exceeding 14 days. The expert report, however, determined that Eden Gardens in Kolkata would not be ready within an acceptable time frame to host the India v England World Cup match on February 27,” said an official statement of the ICC.
Of particular concern was the fact that host venue obligations in relation to cricket operations, media, broadcast and sponsorship facilities were not finalized and confirmed by the venue. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of the decision and, as host, the BCCI will now consider an alternate venue for approval by the ICC.
The ICC did not say where the match would be played and said it would face a ‘challenge’ to relocate the game because of last-minute ticketing and travel requirements. The decision is a blow for India’s image and the estimated 64,000 spectators who were expected to pack the legendary stadium for one of the biggest games in the early stages of the February 19-April 2 event. The ruling echoed the run-up to New Delhi’s 2010 Commonwealth Games, which instead of marking the arrival of a new, modern India on the world stage became a national embarrassment of delays, shoddy workmanship and alleged corruption.
Mr Lorgat said in a statement: “All venues had ample time in which to prepare for World Cup matches. We had been understanding and had provided extensions to the deadline dates but unfortunately we are now at a point where we must carefully manage our risks. The COC had provided venues with a deadline of November 30, 2010 to complete all construction work and then to be match-ready by 31 December 2010.” The ICC granted an extension for five venues that were again inspected over the past week. Eden Gardens in Kolkata was unable to meet the final deadline date of January 25, 2011. “Regrettably, Eden Gardens has not made sufficient progress to justify the level of confidence required to confirm that the venue would be ready in good time. This was no easy decision to take and while it is most unfortunate, it is absolutely necessary,” said Lorgat.
The inspection team drew on the knowledge and experience of some of the leading experts in the field of stadium and ground preparation and the view was that Eden Gardens would not be ready by February 27. The ICC has also recognised the challenge of relocating a scheduled match. Tournament director Prof. Ratnakar Shetty said: “We will work with the new venue, the tour operators and the ticket distributors to manage the logistical challenges that will surely arise.” – Daily Times
