Magmohan Dalmiya criticizes the ICC for choosing Wankhede as venue for final -ICC World Cup 2011
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to give clearance to Wankhede Stadium for hosting the World Cup final has been severely criticized by the president of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bengal-c771 Cricket Association (BCA), Magmohan Dalmiya. Dalmiya accused the ICC of double
standards for approving the aforementioned venue on the basis that it had successful hosted a local Twenty20 match.
"Twenty20 matches at the local level were certainly not a yardstick and that too the matches were played only in February this year. Surprisingly, the ICC experts cleared the venue, going beyond their ambit," Dalmiya said.
Dalmiya added, "According to the ICC's Stadium Agreement, at least two Tests or ODIs or an entire season of first class cricket or matches at the highest level should have been played six months prior to the commencement of the event."
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai played host to the semi-final of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Cricket Associations T20 championship on 27th February 2011. It was the first match in preparation of the World Cup.
Dalmiya has stated that one local match cannot be used as a yardstick to determine if a stadium is good enough to host the ICC World Cup 2011 final. He further elaborated by saying that according to the ICC’s standard procedures, a stadium must have hosted
at least two test matches or an entire season of top tier first class matches six months prior to the commencement of the tournament before it can be deemed suitable for an international event.
The BCA president has questioned the legitimacy of this decision by ICC, as the Wankhede stadium clearly does not fulfill the requirements according to the ICC’s stadium agreement.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719, the ICC’s chief executive, had earlier stated, “I have said earlier there were Twenty20 matches that have been played there and the stadium has been inspected. We have experts whom I can assure you will not pass the stadium unless they are
satisfied with its preparedness."
Dalmiya said he has substantial proof to challenge the ICC and has invited them to come forward and advocate their case as he wants to know about the experts who have given assurance to the ICC.
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