Jan. 31: Kolkata’s loss has proved to be Bengaluru’s gain. With the India-England encounter on Feb. 27 being struck off the Eden Gardens list by the International Cricket Council, Bengaluru has earned the rights to host the World Cup match. And it couldn’t have been more welcome!
Ever since the World Cup schedule was announced Bengalureans were left feeling short-changed because none of the four matches allotted to it was exciting. In fact all the matches have the propensity to be one-sided, barring of course a miracle.
England play Ireland on March 2, India then come up against Ireland on March 6 while Australia take on Kenya (March 13) before meeting Canada on March 16. Surely these matches are as mundane as they come and mercifully, the Eden fiasco has meant that the local fans will get to witness at least one marquee match. The Chinnaswamy stadium has for long been a favoured venue for the English and there wouldn’t be much complaints from Andrew Strauss’ men on the change in the schedule.
In a communique, the ICC said the Indian cricket board responded to the apex body nominating Bengaluru as its preferred alternate venue for the India v England match, a recommendation the ICC agrees to. ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “This decision now clarifies and gives us certainty over the fixture. We can now work with our various partners and stakeholders to make sure that match – along with the rest of the tournament – is all it should be.”
Meanwhile, in a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the ICC had outlined a schedule of works that needed to be carried out at the Eden Gardens ahead of the ground’s other scheduled fixtures on March 15, 18 and 20. As such, an inspection team will visit Kolkata again on February 7 to assess progress in line with that schedule to determine if the venue passes muster to host the three matches. The only stumbling block for the travelling British fans, who, having made plans to travel to Kolkata and booked their tickets in advance, will now have to alter their schedule for Bengaluru.
Though there is no clarity on the issue of refund since logistical issues are still being worked out by the ICC, there is a strong possibility that the British fans will be accommodated at Bengaluru, Many travel houses in Britain had come up with offers for a five-day tour package to India for the Kolkata game which was priced at £1600 pounds `1,19,019 approx). The package includes four/five-star accommodation, ticket to the match and exclusive access to a pre-match pitch report by a cricket expert.
The Chinnaswamy stadium is getting a makeover following the change of guard at the helm. With the Anil Kumble group sweeping the November polls, the home of cricket in Karnataka is being spruced up for the quadrennial extravaganza with better facilities for the members, media and the public.
On the day when the ICC approved the decision to allot the England match to Bengaluru, the managing committee members were huddled in a meeting discussing the logistics involved in hosting the fifth match which now becomes their pride.