Mismanagement galore at Eden Gardens

Taking the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a ride seems to have become a habit for Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials. After the India vs England clash was moved to Bangalore, CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya took it upon himself to ensure that all work was completed and the stadium handed over to the ICC well in advance. One would have expected his subordinates to follow suit.

But things were different when the match between South Africa and Ireland got underway on Tuesday. Nonworking air conditioners in the media centre should have left CAB officials red-faced, but their attitude suggested otherwise. Any complaint seemed to be an irritation for them and they were reluctant to help the media — a far cry from the ever helpful Dalmiya.

With six Ireland wickets down, venue media manager Jon Long came to enquire with the CAB officials if the photographers and the cameramen had been alerted that they could start coming in to the press conference room for the postmatch conference.

But he was in for a shock as the officials were reluctant to help. Instead, they said that there was still enough time for the cameramen and photographers to come in. The otherwise jovial Long had to put his foot down and ask the officials to act immediately before they started moving.

It was worse when Long returned to ask for another favour. With a large number of media personnel covering the match, Long wanted three sheets of paper which had ‘reserved’ printed on them to be placed in the press conference hall. But the officials in charge of hospitality seemed unwilling to work.

Such was their attitude that Long finally asked if he could get a laptop/ desktop and a printer so that he could get them done himself. That is when the officials realised that things could go out of hand and they could be reported to higher officials.

They now decided to swing into action as a frustrated Long looked on. A local official said that things could go seriously out of hand if the CAB mandarins didn’t get things in order.

“ The ICC have been very forthcoming and accommodative, but the CAB officials seem disinterested to work. I hope they start getting their act together unless they want to get another ticking off from the ICC,” he said.

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