Captain of Indian World Cup winning team Kapil Dev tonight criticised the BCCI for Eden Gardens not being able to host World Cup matches involving India.
"It is also responsibility of BCCI to see that CAB completes the renovation work of the stadium in time," Dev said while participating in a cricket chat show in Kolkata.
"I am not supporting CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya nor BCCI. Everybody should have come together to host a match at Eden," he said.
Stating that adding "personal agenda" should not have come in arranging such matches, he asked: "Why for Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, people of West Bengal will be deprived to see India in action at Eden Gardens in this World Cup?"
A stadium in Mumbai, where no match has been played earlier, has been allotted a match this time, but the match scheduled to be held in Kolkata, known for its love for cricket, has been taken away, Dev lamented.
"I also feel sorry for the people here," he said at a chat show in which three other former captains of World Cup -- Vivian Richards, Steve Waugh, and Sourav Ganguly -- were present.
Former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh said the Australians have a very good memory of Eden where they won the World Cup beating England in 1987.
About pressure to be faced by the Indian team for playing before the home crowd, Dev said, "Pressure will be there. But you have to take it in your stride as you have the crowd and the pitch in your favour."
On the dependence of the Indian team on Sachin Tendulkar, he said, "I don't like to depend on one player. Cricket is a team game." Praising Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he said Dhoni was able keep his cool under pressure.
Former West Indies great Richards said fielding would be going the deciding factor this time. He said Indian batting has been improved quite a lot under coach Gary Kirsten. According to the present format, all the rated teams should reach the quarter finals, said Sourav Ganguly.
© 2024 Rediff.com -