Bangalore handed fixture
The high-profile game was taken away from Kolkata because of concerns about unfinished renovation work.
NEW DEHLI:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the India-England World Cup match on February 27 has been switched from Kolkata to Bangalore.
The high-profile game was taken away from Kolkata because of concerns about unfinished renovation work at the historic Eden Gardens stadium. The ICC said in a statement that Bangalore had been confirmed as the venue. In a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the ICC outlined a schedule of works that need to be carried out at Eden Gardens before the other scheduled fixtures at the ground.
The stadium is due to host South Africa v Ireland on March 15, Ireland v the Netherlands on March 18 and Zimbabwe v Kenya on March 20. An ICC inspection team will visit Eden Gardens on February 7 to assess progress.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, “This decision now clarifies and gives us certainty over that fixture.”
The ICC said it chose Bangalore for the fixture after it was recommended by the BCCI. The world governing body had earlier rejected a plea by the Cricket Association of Bengal, which runs Eden Gardens, to reconsider its decision to remove the India-England match.
The ICC was concerned about work in the renovated stands of Eden Gardens, as well as corporate boxes, the media centre and the location of the radio commentary boxes. Eden Gardens, one of India’s most historic cricket venues, hosted the World Cup final in 1987 and a semi-final in 1996.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2011.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that the India-England World Cup match on February 27 has been switched from Kolkata to Bangalore.
The high-profile game was taken away from Kolkata because of concerns about unfinished renovation work at the historic Eden Gardens stadium. The ICC said in a statement that Bangalore had been confirmed as the venue. In a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the ICC outlined a schedule of works that need to be carried out at Eden Gardens before the other scheduled fixtures at the ground.
The stadium is due to host South Africa v Ireland on March 15, Ireland v the Netherlands on March 18 and Zimbabwe v Kenya on March 20. An ICC inspection team will visit Eden Gardens on February 7 to assess progress.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, “This decision now clarifies and gives us certainty over that fixture.”
The ICC said it chose Bangalore for the fixture after it was recommended by the BCCI. The world governing body had earlier rejected a plea by the Cricket Association of Bengal, which runs Eden Gardens, to reconsider its decision to remove the India-England match.
The ICC was concerned about work in the renovated stands of Eden Gardens, as well as corporate boxes, the media centre and the location of the radio commentary boxes. Eden Gardens, one of India’s most historic cricket venues, hosted the World Cup final in 1987 and a semi-final in 1996.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2011.