Kolkata says no to hosting New Zealand Test match
The Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which was to host the second Test match between India and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bengal-c771, which owns the Eden Gardens, said that the renovation work for the ground for the 2011 edition of the World Cup was still in progress and hence, it will be difficult to expect it to host the Test match.
This is the second time that this Test match has run into issues with respect to the venue. Earlier, this game was to be played at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Uttar-Pradesh-c858 Cricket Association had similar issues and had refused to hold the game.
The Test match was then passed over to the Eden Gardens.
Earlier, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 or New Zealand, but because of the renovations in the ground, they had refused to declare the ground match-fit. The Mumbai Cricket Association had said that they would first like to test out the ground in a domestic game before handing it over for international matches.
Speaking to the PTI, the chairman of CAB, Chitrak Mitra said, "Renovation work would have to be stopped for some time if the BCCI's proposal was accepted. This is impossible as the stadium has to be ready for hosting [the] World Cup matches."
The World Cup, which begins next year in the sub-continent, will have four games played at the Eden Gardens. These include, India v England, Ireland v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 as a host nation. Previously the venue had hosted the final in 1987 and a semi-final in 1996.
The last international match that was played in Kolkata was the India-South Africa Test match in February, 2010. The India-New Zealand series starts from 4 November, with a Test match at Ahmedabad, followed by a couple of more Test matches and five ODIs.
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