Match shift to cost CAB Rs 5 crore

Apart from loss of face, the Cricket Association of Bengal will stand to lose around R5 crore now that India's World Cup match against England on February 27 has been shifted to Bangalore. HT reports.

Apart from loss of face, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) will stand to lose around Rs 5 crore now that India's World Cup match against England on February 27 has been shifted to Bangalore. The host association is entitled to the entire revenue from gate sales and the marquee match was sure to have a full house.

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"We were expecting a full house and the amount we could have earned from the gate sales would be approximately Rs 5 crore," former BCCI joint-secretary Gautam Dasgupta said. "We will hardly get any response for the three remaining matches."

Eden's capacity has reduced from 85,000 to 63,000 after bucket seats have been installed. And after keeping aside tickets for members, complimentary tickets and International Cricket Council's (ICC) quota of around 10,000, the remaining 21,000 tickets priced at Rs 1200 and Rs 1500 were meant for gate sales.

According to CAB officials, however, there would be two more inspections, on February 14 and 22. CAB officials also confirmed that they have received a mail from the ICC, which specified details of pending work at Eden.

But the issue that has still left the CAB officials thinking is the sightscreen specifications and the rigidity with which the ICC inspection team has approached the issue. "They want it to be 25ft high instead of 18," CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey said. "That would mean we would lose the entire lower tier above the screen and two lower tier boxes in that zone. We are just curious to know how many grounds are complying to that."