Sunday, February 13, 2011

ICC clears Eden Gardens for three World Cup matches

KOLKATA: Eden Gardens is on course to host the remaining three World Cup matches after being stripped of the high-profile game between India and England due to unfinished renovation work, the International Cricket Council indicated on Tuesday.

"We are pleased with the progress made since January 25 and if that pace of work is maintained, we believe that the stadium will be ready for the games scheduled in March," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

A three-member ICC team, which inspected the Eden Gardens on Monday, reported that outstanding work can be completed in time to host the three matches, the statement added.

Buoyed by ICC's statement, CAB officials said they are hopeful of getting back one India match. According to CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey, the association will appeal to the ICC through the BCCI to reallocate an India match at the Eden Gardens.

The CAB is eyeing the India-Ireland match scheduled to be played at Bangalore on March 6, but the ICC is unlikely to entertain any further change in the schedule as it could throw the entire itinerary out of gear

Four World Cup matches were to be played at the Eden Gardens, but doubts over the fate of the last three games arose after the February 27 match between India and England was shifted to Bangalore.

The venue is now scheduled to host South Africa v Ireland on March 15, Ireland v the Netherlands on March 18 and Zimbabwe v Kenya on March 20.

TOI

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