Eden Gardens can be ready for World Cup

"(The ICC's decision) comes as a shock because when their inspection team was in Kolkata, we were given to understand that they were happy with the progress of the work and had suggested only a few minor modifications," said the letter, seen by AFP. 


"England v India is the biggest of all the group games," Shirley Rattray of Cricket Logistics, the ICC's official travel partner, told the Cricinfo website. 

"It is the most popular because Eden Gardens is such an iconic venue to watch cricket. A match there is regarded as one of the sporting things to do before you die. 

"So it's a big shame that the game has had to be moved." 

Rattray said tickets needed to be relocated and fresh flights and hotels booked. 

"It's never easy when things like this happen, but it will get done. That's the way things work in India, things can be turned around at the last minute very quickly." 

Eden Gardens, which hosted the World Cup final in 1987 and a semi-final in 1996, is due to host three other matches. A decision on whether they will go ahead will be taken by the ICC at a later date. 

The three games are South Africa v Ireland on March 15, Ireland v the Netherlands on March 18 and Zimbabwe v Kenya on March 20. 

The World Cup is being co-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka from February 19 to April 2.