Follow UsThe BCCI has been hit with yet another roadblock as they face challenges with regard to the World Cup. The clash between Pakistan and England, scheduled to be held on November 12 at the Eden Gardens, is to be preponed by a day as the game will coincide with Kali Puja - the second-biggest festival in West Bengal - which will take a fortnight after the Durga Puja.
Security arrangements will be a major issue for the Kolkata police and the same has apparently been conveyed to the ICC and the BCCI.
"Kolkata Police has cited concerns to provide security for the match slated on Diwali. We have informed the ICC and BCCI to reschedule it and if it does not happen we would inform this to the chief minister," a senior CAB office-bearer, who was part of the meeting with the 17-member ICC and BCCI inspection team, said, according to a report on PTI.
Snehashish Ganguly, the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) did not go into further details, but confirmed that he has not heard anything from the Kolkata Police.
"We have not yet got anything officially from the Kolkata Police," Snehasish said.
"Unless we get something officially, we can't inform the ICC. Security issue is being taken care of by the Kolkata Police. That is not our look-out. As I said, we have not got anything officially, if we get anything we will inform ICC."
However, a few CAB officials were seen at the police headquarters a few days ago. Snehashish calls it a "courtesy call."
"We went to Kolkata Police for a courtesy visit two days ago, we had a discussion with them. The schedule, plan and how we are preparing the stadium were discussed," he said.
This perhaps will not be the only fixture to undergo changes. The India-Pakistan clash initially scheduled for October 15, could be pushed ahead by a day due to the Navratri festival. It is also believed that many other teams have asked for a change in schedule given plenty of logistical challenges. We could have a new schedule for the mega event in the upcoming days.