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WT20 final: ICC clean chit for Eden Gardens

December 10, 2015

The International Cricket Council inspection team foresees "no roadblock" in Eden Gardens hosting the ICC World Twenty20 final, even as it is learnt that they want two more dressing rooms at the venue.

Led by ICC head of events Chris Tetley and Board of Control for Cricket in India tournament director M V Sridhar, a joint team inspected the venue on Thursday and asserted that there's absolutely "no problem".

It is, however, learnt that the ICC has suggested the need 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 of more than five hours.

Also present at the conference was Sridhar and CAB joint-secretary Avishek Dalmiya.

Asked whether the Eden got the 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.

"These are two different tournaments we look at the venues in a totally different way. There's absolutely no problem. There're no problems.

"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.

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 detailed 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 final 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."

Image: The Eden Gardens in Kolkata, venue for the ICC World Twenty20 final in 2016

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