Jan. 30: Despite the ICC rejecting BCCI’s appeal to reconsider its decision to take away the India-England cricket World Cup match from Kolkata, its president Sharad Pawar said the Eden Gardens can host the other three ties if it is ready on time.
“The first match may not take place there but the rest of the three matches could have a chance if the requirements are fulfilled,” Pawar said. “I spoke to BCCI president Shashank Manohar to get the stadium ready so that other matches are staged there,” he added. The BCCI at the behest of the Cricket Association of Bengal appealed to the ICC to extend the completion deadline for the tie to February 7.
Even West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee tried his bit and asked two of his ministers to get in touch with former captain Sourav Ganguly and put in all possible efforts to bring the match back. But Pawar on Sunday said he tried his best but his efforts ended in smoke.
“I personally tried intervening after the Chief Minister of West Bengal requested me to do so. But when the ICC team arrived there, the ground was not ready,” he said.
CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya had also called on Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and even personally spoke to Pawar regarding the issue but all efforts went in vain with ICC rejecting the plea on Sunday.
The India-England clash was to be the only match featuring the co-hosts at the venue. South Africa-Ireland (March 15), Netherlands-Ireland (March 18) and Zimbabwe-Kenya (March 20) are the other ties scheduled at the venue.
Meanwhile, Dalmiya termed ICC’s rejection of BCCI’s appeal as “unfavourable and disappointing”. “It is unfortunate. I still strongly feel that it should have come back to Eden. I don't know why they have taken this decision. I am still hopeful that we should get the match,” Dalmiya said.