Kolkata loses high-profile World Cup match

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Kolkata's Eden Gardens has been dropped as the venue of the high-profile India v England match at next month's World Cup due to delays in renovation work, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must decide on an alternative venue for the February 27 game.

"We will work with the new venue, the tour operators and the ticket distributors to manage the logistical challenges that will surely arise," tournament director Ratnakar Shetty said in an ICC statement.

A committee report approved three Sri Lanka venues, Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele, and Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, the venue for the final, subject to minor finishing work being completed.

The report, however, said Eden Gardens would not be ready within an acceptable time frame to host the match between India and England.

"Of particular concern was the fact that host venue obligations in relation to cricket operations, media, broadcast and sponsorship facilities were not finalised and/or confirmed by the venue," the ICC said.

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ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said all venues had had ample time to prepare for the World Cup matches.

"We had been understanding and had provided extensions to the deadline dates but unfortunately we are now at a point where we must carefully manage our risks," Lorgat said.

"Sadly, Eden Gardens in Kolkata was unable to meet the final deadline date of January 25.

"Regrettably, Eden Gardens has not made sufficient progress to justify the level of confidence required to confirm that the venue would be ready in good time.

"This was no easy decision to take and while it is most unfortunate, it is absolutely necessary."

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), the local organisers at the Eden Gardens, said it was confident of finishing all stadium-related work by Feb 5.

"We have still not received any official communication from anyone. Nobody knows any specific reason why the match had to be shifted," CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey told Reuters over the telephone from Kolkata.

"We had told the ICC that we will complete all construction work by January 31 and all works related to interiors by February 5."

Eden Gardens is scheduled to host three more World Cup matches on March 15, 18 and 20.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)