Eden will host 2nd Test vs. SA
Test cricket will make a reply to Eden Gardens after more than two years as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declare Sunday that the city will host the second Test between India and South Africa.
The Eden had previously hosted a Test on November 2007, against Pakistan.
Although the BCCI is yet to declare a complete fixture, sources argue that the second Test is set for a February 14 start. The first of the two-Test series will be held in Nagpur from February 6.
After a meeting of the tour, programme and fixtures committee in Mumbai on Sunday, BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan declared that Kanpur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad will host the one-day Internationals.
The two-match series was included in the itinerary after Team India attained the No.1 place in the ICC Test rankings.
Although a favourite till recently, recent controversy at the Eden during the India-Sri Lanka ODI on December 24 had misted up the city’s chances of hosting the Test. Nevertheless, Cricket Association of Bengal joint secretary Biswarup Dey, who is also a member of the tour, programme and fixtures board and attended Sunday’s meeting, said that he was able to conciliate the Board about these problems.
“Eden getting to host a Test in the India-South Africa series was a logical conclusion. Kanpur’s wish to host a Test was not right since they had a Test in the India-Sri Lanka series. Hence, going by the rules, they are now entitled for an ODI. So, Nagpur and Calcutta were the clear choices,” Dey said from Mumbai.
He also disagrees: “Since 2007, 13 Tests have been played and Eden hasn’t hosted a single one. So we deserved to host this match.”