 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly began his new innings as Cricket Association of Bengal president on Thursday with a pledge to make the Eden Gardens "the best place to play cricket" in three months' time.
"I've seen almost every cricket venue around the world. I know what exists there. I can guarantee you that within the next three months Eden Gardens will have the same facilities as anywhere else in the world.
"We are going to do everything possible to make this ground the best place to play cricket," Ganguly told a news conference after he was unanimously elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal.
"For me, it's about having the best, whoever it maybe. You be here if you deliver. More than anybody, the association's image, respect and prestige is at stake. It's not above anyone, whether it's Ganguly, Avishek Dalmiya or X, Y, Z."
The iconic venue, which is slated to host the World Twenty20 final in six months' time, has come under criticism after the India-South Africa Twenty20 International on October 8 was called off without a ball being bowled because of a wet outfield.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's chairman of the ground and pitches committee, Daljit Singh, will be in Kolkata on Saturday and Ganguly hinted at an overhaul ahead of next year's World Twenty20 final.
"Every infrastructure needs re-modelling. Not just in cricket, but in office, business enterprises, everywhere and this association as well. We will try and do the best possible things. I have been around the world for 20 years."
Ganguly said that the world over rain affects matches and remembered India's series win against England after rain a interruption at the Lord's in 2007.
"You must also understand that with rain games get called off. It happens in every cricket venue around the world. I remember on Day 5 of a Test when England were almost winning at Lord's, not a single ball was bowled and we saved the match and went on to win the series.
"It's unfortunate. At the same time, we've to get this ground up to the best possible level we can. It's a bit of both. That's where we're here for. That's why we're elected."
The Eden Gardens groundsmen had more than six hours to prepare the ground but all their efforts failed and the veteran curator Prabir Mukherjee was blamed for the fiasco. Since then he's stopped coming to the ground.
Similar scenes were witnessed on Thursday during Bengal's Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan, as the ground, without any curator at the moment, was poorly managed and water spilled onto the playing strip leaving a question mark over the next day's proceedings.
The Eden Gardens's soil structure and its the drainage system is often blamed.
Ganguly said he would speak to Mukherjee and sort out the issue.
"I don't know why is he's not coming... It's very hard to control him, when he's coming and not coming. I will speak to Prabirda. I did not have a post (October 5-15) earlier.
"In any case Sujanda (Mukherjee) is involved with the association. He runs the Kalyani Cricket Academy. With Prabirda's absence we had to bring someone," Ganguly said.
Image: Newly-elected CAB President Sourav Ganguly being felicitated by West Bengal Youth Affairs Minister Arup Biswas (left) after the Annual General Meeting in Kolkata on Thursday.
Photograph: PTI