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Eden Gardens gets ready for cricket

     Kolkata: Kolkata's famous Eden Gardens, considered one of the best cricket grounds in the world, is now ready to host the second Test match between arch cricket rivals. A large contingent of groundsmen worked overtime to create a carpet like field, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Pitches and Grounds Committee, which supervises cricket pitch preparations across the country, said that it took all measures to provide a balanced playing surface favouring both bowlers and batsmen. Preparations are also in full swing for making and allocating a separate stand for visiting Pakistani and Indian cricket fans in the sprawling stadium that can accommodate over 100,000 people. There is a probability also of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf coming to watch the match, which starts from March 16. A formal invitation to see the match or any other match in the ongoing series has been extended to Musharraf by the Indian government. A separate invite has also gone from the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. In a bid to attract cricket crazy Kolkatans to the ground for the match the Cricket Association of Bengal would install a giant screen at the Eden Gardens for a better cricket viewing. The screen measuring 18'X12' would be installed in the north-east corner of the ground to help the spectators in watching the game, particularly the television replays of the on-field actions. Tight security arrangements are also in place to give a full- proof security cover to the Pakistan cricket ambassadors.

Ganguly hopes of defeating Pak this time (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed confidence of winning the second Test against Pakistan, which begins here on Wednesday. "All my players are fit. We were close to winning the Test in Mohali. We will try to win here," Ganguly told a pre-match press conference here. He, however, accepted that the high profile series had its own pressures on both the teams, which will make all efforts to clinch the victory. "But there will be a lot of pressure. It's a series of three Tests. Pakistan will also go all out to win," he said. The Prince of Indian cricket also said that there were good chance of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh making a comeback in the team for the second Test. "There is a good chance of him playing. But we have to take another look at the wicket before deciding on the team composition," he said. He further said that after seeing the amount of grass on the wicket, the team management would decide whether to go with five bowler formula consisting of three pacers and two spinners or to play with two pacer and two spinner. The skipper also said that he was happy with the wicket and hoped the match will turn in their favour.

Some Pak cricket fans gone missing, admits Govt (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today said that some Pakistani fans who came to the country to watch the first Test between the two nations, have gone missing. Reports say about 34 Pakistanis, part of the 3000 fans who had followed their home team to watch the first test in Mohali, were missing. While disputing the number of fans gone missing, Jaiswal said that it was for the state government to ensure the return of each and every Pakistani visitor. "It has come to my knowledge that the number of people who had come to watch the match have not returned. There can be talks on the number, as you are saying 250 we are saying they are less. State government has to ensure that those who came here do return. The government should take a serious note of it. The visitors were given a nine-day visa for the match and they should return," Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi.

     The visas issued to the missing Pakistanis have expired. Foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said investigation has been ordered into the missing Pakistanis. "Things normally don't come to such an extent. People who come here normally leave. They must have sought extension. I would not like to comment on it now," Sarna said at a press conference in the Capital. Meanwhile, Opposition leader and BJP spokesman VK Malhotra said that the nation's security should not be overlooked while pursuing peace moves. "It is good to have friendship with the people of Pakistan but such incidents should not be overlooked. Government should ensure the safety of our country. Those who are here without valid visas should be searched for and sent back to their nation," Malhotra said. According to a data released by Immigration Department 2754 Pakistani citizens had come to India for watching Mohali test last week, but the returning Pakistanis, till now, add up to 2720 only.

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