It’s a derision for a nation where cricket is been followed as a religion that its one of the biggest ground has been dumped to host the match of its own nation against England in coming Cricket World Cup 2011.
In an unprecedented decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Haroon Lorgat on Friday summarily rejected Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB's) plea to give them time till February 7 to make the Eden Gardens 'match-fit' to host India's World Cup match against England on February 27.
An ICC team which has earlier inspected the Eden on Tuesday has pointed out its apprehension towards the lethargic preparation going on the ground for the coming world cup and their clear view was that Eden Garden would not be able to get ready by February 27.
Later taking action against the report submitted by inspecting team, ICC on Wednesday decided to cancel the scheduled match at Eden.
However, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalimiya, wrote a plea to BCCI president Mr Shashank Manohar informing him the reason which ultimately resulted in such unexpected deferment and requested him to ask for 10 days extension from the ICC since the India-England fixture was to be the only game where the fans get to see the home team in action during the world cup. He had also mentioned the point that the venues in Sri Lanka and Wankhede has been asked to hand over the ground 20 days prior to the match. In that scale CAB should also get the time till 7th Febuary.
In his reply to Shasnak Manohar, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat informed him that the world premier cricket body has turned down CAB's request because their experts were of the view that the unfinished renovation work at the Eden Gardens cannot be completed by February 7. He has also informed Mr Manohar that Eden Gardens' chances of hosting the remaining three non-India matches now rest on a further inspection by the ICC's venue-inspection team which is scheduled to visit the venue on Monday.
This is for the first time in the history of cricket world cup that a venue has been striped of its right to host a World cup match for its failure to prove its preparedness. However, in 2007 world cup a warm match was shifted from the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad because the venue was not ready.
Established in 1864, Eden Garden is perhaps one the oldest and most beautiful cricket ground in the world. The ground has been named after the sister of Lord Auckland, the former governer general.
Eden is a witness of some of the greatest cricketing action. In 1991, at Eden India’s finest all rounder Kapil Dev took an ODI hat-trick against the Sri Lankans in 1991 and became first Indian to take an ODI hat-trick.
It was the Eden only where in 2000-01 VVS Laxman had scored mammoth 281 runs against Australia which ultimately brought a surprise win to India. It was only the third time in Test history that a team had won after being forced to follow on.
Loss of world cup match has brought a heartbroken set back to the cricket lovers of city of Joy. Not to the people of Kolkatta only, this is a mishap for the cricket lovers of world also. In a statement on a website, a cricket lover exhibits his dejected feelings as “A cricket World Cup without Eden Garden is like a kiss without a hug”
Fans in Kolkata are not the only ones left heartbroken by the ICC's decision to shift the World Cup match between India and England out of Eden Gardens, the English cricketers are also disappointed that they would not be playing at the historic venue.
On his Twitter page, English pacer Stuart Broad wrote "Shame Eden Gardens not ready for World Cup, our game vs India there would have been special with 100,000+ crowd,"
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