ICC happy with Eden progress for World T20 finals

The International Cricket Council inspection team foresees “no roadblock” in Eden Gardens hosting the ICC World Twenty20 finals, even as it’s learnt that they want two more dressing rooms in the venue.

Led by ICC head of events, Chris Tetley and BCCI tournament director M.V. Sridhar, a joint team today did an inspection of the venue and they asserted that there’s absolutely “no problem”.

It’s, however, learnt that the ICC has suggested for two more dressing rooms in order to accommodate the women’s teams as the World T20 men’s and women’s finals will be held on the same day but in different sessions.

“Today has been extremely positive and we’re really looking forward to the World Twenty20 to be played here,” Tetley told a news conference after a marathon recce that went on for more than five hours.

Asked whether the Eden got ICC’s green signal, Tetley said: “It’s not a matter of green signal, it’s a matter of discussing preparations on all aspects of staging the tournament. I don’t foresee any roadblocks.”

Tetley was also part of the 2011 ICC World Cup inspection team that had rejected the Eden to host the India-England first match on February 27.

“I don’t think we need to look back at (50 overs) Cricket World Cup. We’re looking forward towards the World Twenty20 and I’m quite certain that it will be a very successful tournament, staged here at Eden Gardens,” Tetley said.

“These are two different tournaments we look at the venues in a totally different way. There’s absolutely no problem. There’re no problems,” he said.

“There’re many things you need for the ICC World Twenty20 which may not fit the normal template of a cricket venue. We look at the existing facilities and we discuss between ourselves with BCCI and CAB and how best we achieve what we need to,” Tetley said in the joint news conference with Sridhar and CAB joint-secretary Avishek Dalmiya.

Assuring that the dressing room was a non-issue, Dalmiya said: “It’s all about arrangements and rearrangements. We’re not talking about any new construction of dressing room or anything like that. The meeting was more about coordination.”

The detail schedule of the World Twenty20 in March-April next year will be announced in Mumbai on Friday.

“The schedule will be announced tomorrow in Mumbai but as you all know it’s been already indicated the finals will be in Kolkata,” World Twenty20 tournament director Sridhar said.

“I think we’ve successfully identified and we’re comfortable. There’s no problem at all.”