Demonstrators hold flags and shout anti-ICC slogans during a protest outside Eden Gardens in Kolkata.—Reuters
KOLKATA: Angry fans waved banners and shouted slogans on Monday as an International Cricket Council (ICC) inspection team assessed whether Eden Gardens could host three World Cup games after losing a marquee match to Bangalore.
Eden Gardens, one of India’s best-known grounds, was stripped of the India v England game on Feb. 27 after an ICC delegation said the venue was under-prepared due to a delay in construction work.
A three-member inspection team returned on Monday to assess if enough progress had been made to save three other matches —none featuring India —and was greeted by slogan-chanting fans holding up “Go Back ICC Officials” placards and waving black flags.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), who have headquarters at Eden Gardens, were hopeful of hosting their other three scheduled matches there in March.
“We are confident,” CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey told the CNN-IBN channel. “We took them (ICC team) to the players’ area, press box … everything is now ready and there is nothing incomplete.”
The three games still due to be held at Eden Gardens are South Africa v Ireland on March 15, Ireland v Netherlands on March 18 and Kenya v Zimbabwe on March 20.
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