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[feverpitch]

Why can’t Eden get a lifeline like Wankhede?’

CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya tells SAI MANISH that the ICC has been unfair to Kolkata


 
How did Eden Gardens come to this state when you are the Cricket Association of Bengal president?
One or two people can come and say whatever they want to. They can say that nothing is finished at Eden Gardens and people will buy that argument. We were not even told by the International Cricket Council (ICC) what all they were expecting. Those who have made a judgement on the preparedness of the Eden Gardens have obviously been guided by external factors. How can one man declare that the stadium is unfit to host a World Cup match? This is beyond the understanding of those who know about the renovation work that has been going on. Even now we are confident that we can be in a position to host all the matches scheduled here. However, the ICC seems to think otherwise. At the rate the work is progressing, the stadium will be ready to host the World Cup matches as per schedule.

The ICC says the roof is yet to be completed, security perimeter is not ready, entry gates are not installed, replay screens are not up. What were you doing all this while?
The report can say whatever but we were given a copy of it just a day before they made an announcement about not hosting the India-England match at Eden Gardens. Not once during their inspections has the ICC ever mentioned what is wrong with Eden Gardens. So I don’t understand that all along what were a few people in the ICC thinking about. If they came for inspections, how can they not let the CAB know about their findings from time to time. One fine day, they have said that Eden Gardens will not be hosting the match. One person in the ICC, one fine day has taken a decision like that without proper evaluation of the progress made at the stadium.

But the ICC gave you three deadlines and repeated reminders and not once did Eden Gardens meet it.
The ICC gave us three deadlines. But for what? At no point of time did they lay parameters regarding what these deadlines were given for. The CAB had no idea what the ICC team came and saw. There were no exchanges on the shortcomings that were seen by them. The ICC team kept everyone in the dark about what was going on in their minds. It was only after the decision to not hold the India-England match that we came to know about the ICC’s objections.

But the ICC report lists many parameters including a shocking one that there was not even a single UPS at the Eden Gardens. Aren’t all those parameters?
See, that is not the point here. Two stadiums in Sri Lanka have been given 15 more days to complete their work. Look at Wankhede Stadium whose condition was worse than Eden Gardens. If Wankhede Stadium can be given extensions over extensions, why should Eden Gardens be treated unfairly. All this certainly smacks of prejudice on the ICC’s part.

You met Pranab Mukherjee. What did you tell him?
It will be unreasonable to tell you what I talked with him.

But what does the Union finance minister have to do with cricket?
I don’t want to say what he has to do with cricket. You should ask him that.

Do you think the CAB was unduly concerned about Sourav Ganguly missing out on a place in the Indian Premier League, and didn’t concentrate on its real job?
No, I don’t think so. It is unfair to say that. It has nothing to do with Eden Gardens or our preparations for the World Cup.

 
From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 8, Issue 6, Dated Feb 12, 2011

[vincent]

These are all dumb excuses. A deadline to complete the works is a deadline to complete the works. There is no confusion about what the works are if it is to get the stadium ready for the match. Comparing it to Wankhede is not very clever since the first match at Wankhede is almost a month after the one that was scheduled at Eden. There are other matches that are still scheduled at Eden which is what he should really compare to when he talks about Wankhede (which by the way is by far not the "standard" in India to measure against as far as Cricket stadiums go.).How about comparing it to the one in Bangalore which Kumble claims will be fully ready even for the warm-up match?

[dextrous]

although sri lankan grounds seem to be in pretty much the same shape.

[Blwe_torch]

BCCI's agenda against Dalmiya behind Eden fiasco: Kapil
PTI, Feb 13, 2011, 11.09pm IST


KOLKATA: Captain of Indian World Cup winning team Kapil Dev on Sunday criticised the BCCI for Eden Gardens not being able to host World Cup matches involving India.

"It is also responsibility of BCCI to see that CAB completes the renovation work of the stadium in time," Dev said while participating in a cricket chat show here.

"I am not supporting CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya nor BCCI. Everybody should have come together to host a match at Eden," he said.

Stating that adding "personal agenda" should not have come in arranging such matches, he asked: "Why for Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, people of West Bengal will be deprived to see India in action at Eden Gardens in this World Cup?"

A stadium in Mumbai, where no match has been played earlier, has been allotted a match this time, but the match scheduled to be held in Kolkata, known for its love for cricket, has been taken away, Dev lamented.

"I also feel sorry for the people here," he said at a chat show in which three other former captains of World Cup -- Vivian Richards, Steve Waugh, and Sourav Ganguly -- were present.

Former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh said the Australians have a very good memory of Eden where they won the World Cup beating England in 1987.

About pressure to be faced by the Indian team for playing before the home crowd, Dev said, "Pressure will be there. But you have to take it in your stride as you have the crowd and the pitch in your favour."

On the dependence of the Indian team on Sachin Tendulkar, he said, "I don't like to depend on one player. Cricket is a team game."

Praising Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he said Dhoni was able keep his cool under pressure.

Former West Indies great Richards said fielding would be going the deciding factor this time.

He said Indian batting has been improved quite a lot under coach Gary Kirsten.

According to the present format, all the rated teams should reach the quarterfinals, said Sourav Ganguly.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2011/news/BCCIs-agenda-against-Dalmiya-behind-Eden-fiasco-Kapil/articleshow/7490086.cms