Kolkata, Feb 1 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain Tuesday appealed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider the Eden Gardens as the venue of the India-England World Cup match keeping in mind not only the emotions of the cricket loving people of Kolkata, but of eastern India.
‘Eden Garden not hosting a World Cup match is a matter of shame not only for Kolkata but for all the cricket fans of eastern India. It is a matter of shame for eastern India,’ Hussain said.
‘International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should look into the matter of emotions of the people of eastern India,’ said Hussain, who hails from Bihar.
The ICC last week ruled the Eden Gardens unsuitable for the tie due to its unpreparedness. The scrapping of the match followed an adverse report from the ICC venue inspection team.
Following an appeal from Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Shashank Manohar requested the ICC to reconsider its decision, but the international body turned it down Sunday night.
Hussain, who was the minister of state for sports during the NDA regime, said: ‘People of eastern India wait for Eden to host match so that they can come and watch. But if Eden is not hosting the game, now where will these people go to see a match. Will they go to Bangalore?’
Asked whether CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya should step down for failing to prepare the historic cricket ground in time for the math, Hussain said whoever is responsible should quit.
