ICC team inspects Eden facilities, face black flag protests

A group of cricket lovers waved black flags to protest the International Cricket Council ICC robbing the Eden Gardens of the IndiaEngland match as a threemember team of the games apex body inspected the grounds facilities on Monday to see if it was fit to host the remaining three World Cup matches next month We have shown them all the facilities They have seen the whole ground Cricket Association of Bengal CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey told newspersons after the teams threehour inspection Asked whether the ICC delegation was satisfied Dey avoided a direct reply I cannot say that because they have not said so far he said The ICC team arrived around 950 am and went around the ground the two new galleries the dressing rooms some corporate boxes and other parts of the premises CAB sources said the team spent a lot of time inspecting the sight screens As the ICC team was making a tour of the Eden Gardens about 50 cricket lovers waved black flags accusing the ICC of having taken away the February 27 match between India and England from the Eden This they alleged was done at the behest of ICC president Sharad Pawar who has had a longstanding rivalry with CAB chief Jagmohan Dalmiya in Indian cricket board politics ICC go back Down Down ICC They took the unfair decision to please their boss Pawar said a youth who was part of the demonstration organised under the banner of the Maidan Sports Lovers Association A section of CAB officials however expressed apprehension that the uncovered roof on the two newly built galleries could still be a bone of contention with the ICC late last month asking the local association to complete the roof construction before the venue can be given clearance for the three games The CAB has already told the ICC that it was not possible to complete the roof As per a timeline given by the ICC part of the work has to be completed by Monday some more part by February 14 and the entire work schedule by February 22 The ICC January 27 ruled the Eden Gardens unsuitable for the February 27 tie following an adverse report form its inspection team Following an appeal from CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya Board of Control for Cricket in India chief Shashank Manohar requested ICC to consider the demand but the international body turned it down The Eden Gardens is now slated to host South Africa vs Ireland March 15 the Netherlands vs Ireland March 18 and Zimbabwe vs Kenya March 20 The February 27 IndiaEngland match has been shifted to Bangalore