---NEWS---

Eden can host other matches if it meets criteria: Pawar

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that the Eden Gardens in Kolkata can host three other matches on time if it meets some criteria.

"The first match may not take place there but the rest of the three matches could have a chance if the requirements are fulfilled. We have written to BCCI regarding this. I spoke to BCCI president Shashank Manohar to get the stadium ready so that other matches are staged there," said Pawar.

Pawar said he was also approached by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. "I personally tried intervening after the Chief Minister of West Bengal requested me to do so. But when the ICC team arrived there, the ground was not ready," he said.

The India-England clash was to be the only match featuring the co-hosts at the venue and the other scheduled clashes mostly feature minnows. South Africa-Ireland (March 15), Netherlands-Ireland (March 18) and Zimbabwe-Kenya (March 20) are the other games scheduled at the venue.