Mohali and Bangalore were other options for the match to shift to but Pakistan's apparent preference for Kolkata and CAB's persistence have said to have turned negotiations in Eden's favour © Cricbuzz
"Potentially, we have the two biggest matches in the tournament," a junior Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) member exclaimed. The hallowed Eden Gardens, host to some of Indian cricket's greatest moments and scheduled to host the final of World T20 2016, was a picture of delight on Wednesday (March 9).
The historic ground had just been confirmed to host the marquee India-Pakistan World T20 group stage game, with Dave Richardson, International Cricket Council's CEO, confirming the relocation of the fixture from Dharamsala to Kolkata via an official press conference in New Delhi.
Eden Gardens, which had missed out on a chance to host an India game when the original tournament itinerary was released, waited eagerly as soon as it became evident, early on Wednesday morning, that the match would be pulled out of Dharamsala after a visit by a three-member security team from Pakistan proved unfruitful.
Mohali and Bangalore were other options for the match to shift to but Pakistan's apparent preference for Kolkata and CAB's persistence have said to have turned negotiations in Eden's favour. By afternoon, the news of Kolkata getting to host was all but official. Yet, the CAB authorities, who had been in contact with the ICC and BCCI, chose to remain tight-lipped until an official announcement in the wake of the sensitive proceedings.
The understandably muted delirium of potentially hosting, arguably the biggest group-stage game of the tournament, was palpable at the Eden much before the media release came through.
Even the Indian team, participating in their first pre-World T20 net session, became but a minor footnote to those assembled at the stadium, keeping close tabs on the developments trickling in from New Delhi. Sourav Ganguly, the former India captain and current president of the CAB, waived off a small media contingent waiting near his office with a promise of talking to them following an official confirmation. It took a couple of hours but the former India captain was true to his word.
"We are happy that we got this game," he said, addressing the press conference, a smile etched on his face. "This discussion was going on for a while. We had requested the BCCI... We are one of the best grounds in the world and it's looking outstanding. We did not have an India game while each of the other seven venues hosting the World T20 had... BCCI always replied with 'But you have the final'. We are thankful to BCCI for awarding this match to us. It's a tribute to (Late) Mr. (Jagmohan) Dalmiya. Hope he will be smiling up there... He had brought the final here as BCCI president."
A game featuring India gives the state association another opportunity to sell their 60000-plus seats, filling their coffers significantly. Add to this, the sum received by ICC for hosting the event and for covering the operational cost involved in the set up of a fixture and the CAB stands to make notable financial gains due to the sudden turn of events.
But, while the prospect of an India-Pakistan game at a venue like the Eden Gardens is salivating, it brings with it, its own baggage. BCCI, which had marketed the tournament as a fan-first event, finds itself in an embarrassing situation where it has inconvenienced the very fan it sought to appease.
This 11th hour rescheduling means tickets for the fixture will need to be reissued while ensuring that those willing to seek a transfer of ticket for the Kolkata game get the first right of refusal.
Ganguly and the CAB themselves will need to ideate a means around the logistical nightmare that a match of such a magnitude brings with it. Kolkata is scheduled to host three games in a span of four days between the 16th and the 19th, and the short turnaround time will as significantly hamper CAB as it will the ICC.
Ganguly acknowledged the predicament but was quick to point out that the the benefit of hosting a significant India game, one that is guaranteed to be played in front of a 'full house', far outweighs the troubles it brings with it.
"Preparation won't be very tough as it would be difficult to handle ticketing. We will get tickets on March 12, stamping will be done over two days and distribution will begin from March 14.
But at the same time it won't be very different to preparing for any other game. I don't think that's a problem from that point of view. We just have do it. We keep doing the same things for every match. Now we are just hosting one more game. Yes, it's an India-Pakistan game so security will be tight but the playing conditions remain the same," he said.
The CAB president, visibly delighted at the unexpected turn of events, though, was also quick to offer his sympathies to the Dharamsala fans and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), who had to miss out on the game for no fault of theirs.
"It must be a sad moment for them for no fault of theirs. I feel for Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association and Dharamsala. I sympathise wih Anurag Thakur and people of Himachal for what has happened. It's one of the best stadia of the country and could have hosted the game very easily," Ganguly said.
Having lost the fixture from his home association, all Thakur or, by extension, the BCCI can now hope for is that the remainder of the tournament pans out without further disruptions or controversies.
As organisers of the multi-team event, there is reputation riding on the success of the event and further indulgence of political mud-slinging will only serve to wipe the lustre off the tournament. The city of Kolkata however, can rejoice their second serving of 'joy'.
via-Cricbuzz
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