A fire erupted at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium on Wednesday, shortly after the revised schedule for the 2023 World Cup was announced. The stadium, a historic venue set to host five important matches in the upcoming tournament, including the second semifinal, was struck by a late-night tragedy.
Flames consumed one of the rooms, causing considerable damage. Eden Gardens, renowned for witnessing some of India’s most memorable victories, such as the remarkable 2001 Test between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid against Australia, as well as the 1993 Hero Cup final, is currently undergoing renovations to ensure its readiness for the World Cup.
The fire originated when sparks from a sauna heater ignited a pile of towels that were stored nearby, intensifying the blaze. Fortunately, this minor setback will not impact the stadium’s timeline for completion.
“A fire broke out last night at 11.50 pm. People who were working here saw smoke and then the fire. Immediately, two fire tenders were pressed into action, and flames were doused in no time. There was no damage to the dressing room as such. Only some cables were burnt. But certainly, there is no sabotage angle,” Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehasish Ganguly told reporters on Thursday.
Eden Gardens is among several stadiums in need of enhancements before the ICC’s major cricketing event. The refurbishment efforts encompass upgrades to the press box, media lounge, and corporate suites. The venue had previously undergone renovation before the 2011 World Cup, with an estimated cost of around 32 million USD allocated for the project.
However, despite this substantial investment, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) was unable to retain the high-profile match between India and England due to the stadium’s failure to meet the ICC’s prescribed standards. In contrast, this time, Ganguly is taking a more meticulous approach, leaving no room for uncertainty.
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The upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 holds immense significance for the iconic Eden Gardens stadium, as it will host a World Cup semi-final after a hiatus of 27 years. The last such occasion was the India vs Sri Lanka semi-final during the 1996 World Cup. While Eden Gardens saw the gripping India vs Pakistan encounter during the 2016 World T20, the ambience of a World Cup knockout game carries a distinct and special atmosphere. Additionally, Eden Gardens has previously been the venue for two World Cup finals, in 1987 and 2016.
Eden Gardens’ schedule for the World Cup 2023 differs from other venues. Kolkata’s involvement will commence later, with the stadium hosting its first World Cup match on October 28, featuring Bangladesh and the Netherlands. Following this, a highly anticipated and potentially intense clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh will take place on the last day of October.
After a gap of five days, India will face South Africa on November 5. Subsequently, the final league match at Kolkata in the CWC ’23 will be between England and Pakistan on November 11. Initially slated for November 12, the match date was adjusted due to security concerns raised by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), as it coincided with the Hindu festival of Kali Puja.