Fresh allure: The newly renovated Eden Gardens Stadium will host 5 World Cup video games starting on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
Following months of renovation and a big facelift, the long-lasting Eden Gardens is all set to host the primary of its 5 World Cup matches involving Bangladesh and the Netherlands on Saturday.
Even although solely renovation and refurbishment was attainable to the current construction on the land owned by the Army, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) started its preparations for the World Cup months prematurely and squeezed in all attainable trendy facilities contained in the sprawling decades-old construction.
It started by switching to trendy lighting, redecorating the hanging press field and media centre, redesigning the interiors of the principle foyer, dressing rooms and company packing containers to add a contact of luxe.
New covers (which might be used to cowl the entire floor inside one-and-a-half minute in case of rains), a much bigger and digital scoreboard, revamped wash rooms for followers and a contemporary coat of paint are another sides which have given a facelift to the Eden Gardens.
Known for its lengthy and eventful historical past related to the sport, the Eden Gardens could have made a late entry into the show-piece occasion due to the Durga Puja festivities, nevertheless it actually guarantees thrilling motion whereas staging the celebrated event for the fourth time.
In every of the earlier three editions, the venue was witness to drama. In 1987, it noticed Australia elevate its maiden World title. In 1996, it shed tears over the forgettable episode of the house staff conceding the semifinal to eventual champion Sri Lanka in weird circumstances due to crowd disturbances. And in 2011, the stadium performed host to a high-scoring tussle between minnows Ireland and the Netherlands with the latter ending up on the dropping aspect regardless of placing up a 300-plus complete.
With the contemporary strips within the center anticipated to produce good contests between the bat and the ball, essentially the most recognisable sporting venue within the Maidan space of the town will proceed to be the centre of attraction over the subsequent three weeks — till the semifinal on Nov. 16.
