CAB gets minister support to bring back Eden tie

The ICC has scrapped Eden Gardens as a venue for India-England World Cup match due to preparation issues but West Bengal Sports Minister Kanti Ganguly on Friday asked the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to continue its efforts to bring back the tie to the city.

The match is scheduled for February 27 and ICC has asked the BCCI to shift the match to some other venue.

The minister said he has asked CAB President Jagmohan Dalmiya to continue all efforts, including an appeal to the International Cricket Council and BCCI, to get the match back.

"The state government is ready to extend all-out support to the CAB in this regard," Ganguly said.

Ganguly assured the CAB president that if required, he was ready to request Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for intervention to sort out the matter.

Ganguly said he discussed the issue with Dalmiya on Thursday and he might have another round of talks with him in this evening over phone.

Expressing optimism that renovation work at the historic stadium would be complete in time, Ganguly said "the CAB has administrative expertise and experience".

"It is not a time to debate. We need to work together to get back the match," the minister said.

Dalmiya has already appealed to the ICC through the Indian Cricket Board to extend the deadline for completion of work at Eden Gardens till February 7.