Thursday, February 10, 2011

India WCup Preparations Raise Unhappy Memory

Preparations for the upcoming World Cup cricket has revived bad memories of India's chaos that accompanied the rise in the Commonwealth Games last year.

While the reputation of the Commonwealth Games was partially saved by some repairs frantic last-minute, slow renovations already claimed this month's World Cup one of its most anticipated match-times of India Eden Gardens ground in Calcutta.

The place was reserved for the reception phase of the group of Italy-England game, but was divided again, because the Garden of Eden was considered to be ready.

Mumbai Wankhede stadium has also been questioned as a place for the World Cup due to renovations of late, while a poor quality land to Kotla ground in New Delhi had also threatened his participation, but both were finally given the green light to host the games.

Hundreds of workers were assigned to the gardens of Eden to accelerate the renovation, but a visitor to the International Cricket Council inspection team found the stadium would not be ready for its first game Feb. 27.

India offspinner Harbhajan Singh, who took a hat-trick in a Test against Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001, said that the hosts will be a special atmosphere to play in capacity of 65 000.