Kolkata loses high-profile World Cup match

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – 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, the  International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must decide  on an alternative venue for the Feb. 27 game.
“We will work with the new venue, the tour operators and the  ticket distributors to manage the logistical challenges that  will surely arise,” tournament director Ratnakar Shetty said in  an ICC statement.

A committee report approved three Sri Lanka venues, Colombo,  Hambantota and Pallekele, and Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, the  venue for the final, subject to minor finishing work being  completed.

The report, however, said Eden Gardens would not be ready  within an acceptable time frame to host the match between India  and England.
“Of particular concern was the fact that host venue  obligations in relation to cricket operations, media, broadcast  and sponsorship facilities were not finalised and/or confirmed  by the venue,” the ICC said.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said all venues had had  ample time to prepare for the 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,” Lorgat said.

“Sadly, Eden Gardens in Kolkata was unable to meet the final  deadline date of Jan. 25.
“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.”
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), the local  organisers at the Eden Gardens, said it was confident of  finishing all stadium-related work by Feb 5.

“We have still not received any official communication from  anyone. Nobody knows any specific reason why the match had to be  shifted,” CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey told Reuters over the  telephone from Kolkata. “We had told the ICC that we will complete all construction  work by Jan. 31 and all works related to interiors by Feb. 5.”

Eden Gardens is scheduled to host three more World Cup  matches on March 15, 18 and 20.