COMMENT – In a major embarrassment to the World Cup organisers, the International Cricket Council has ruled out Eden Gardens, Kolkata as the host of the game between India and England on February 27. The ICC’s inspection team, which included some of the leading experts in the field of stadium and ground preparation, felt that Eden Gardens would not be ready in time. No alternate venue for the match has yet been named.
Kolkata’s Eden Gardens was scheduled to host four matches – on February 27, March 15, March 18 and March 20. Now, it remains to be seen whether the ICC will allow the other matches at the venue to go ahead.
EDEN GARDENS CONTROVERSIES:
The Test match between India and West Indies in 1966-67 found a place in history of Test cricket not because of the cricket it produced, but because of the horrible riot that broke out on the second day (January 1,1967). The authorities had sold more tickets than there were seats and inevitably the surplus spectators tried to find accommodation on the grass round the boundaries.
On the final day (December 16, 1969) of the Test match between India and Australia in 1969-70, the series was marred by an invasion from a section of the crowd on to the field of play. Australia hit off the requisite 39 runs for victory without loss, but not before the crowd had provided some disturbance and excitement.
In a part of the stands called the Ranji Stadium, with a flight of two decks, both uncovered, the spectators in the upper one started throwing stones and brickbats at those in the lower one, forcing the latter to rush on to the ground for safety. They were persuaded by the police to sit along the boundary and play was resumed after an interruption of about fifteen minutes.
The 1996 World Cup semi-final on March 13,1996 was called off with Sri Lanka were on the verge of victory over the home side, after the home crowd set fire to the stands after an Indian collapse. Enraged by an Indian collapse of seven wickets for 22, some home supporters threw bottles on to the outfield and set fire to the seating. Referee Clive Lloyd took the teams off for 15 minutes, attempted a restart and then awarded Sri Lanka the game by default
In 1999, leading Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was run out after colliding with Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar. The crowd thought that Shoaib Akhtar had impeded Sachin Tendulkar and rioted, forcing the police to evict the spectators. The match continued in front of an empty stadium.
