New Delhi: Serious criticism of five venues for next year’s World Cup has been included in a report by the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup venue inspection team which visited India and Sri Lanka earlier this month.
Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium which is to host the final on April 2 and Kolkata’s Eden Gardens have also come under the concern of the big ICC team numbering nearly 30 which visited all World Cup venues to check the progress of construction work, reports have claimed in India and England. Two of Sri Lanka’s three venues, Sooriyawerea and Premadasa, venue for a semi-final are have also been criticised over their delays.
Several international newspapers and websites which were privy to the report submitted to the ICC by the venue inspection team headed by Chris Tetley confirmed that the ICC team in its report had expressed dissatisfaction over the state of all three Sri Lankan venues – Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and the Hambantota venue.
The ICC team which assessed the preparedness of the venues has stated in their interim evaluation report that the venues haven’t adhered to the November 30 deadline,
This inspection team will take a final decision whether these venues will be used or the completion of venue construction, and will give their final verdict on whether the venues will host the matches or not.
The ICC team in its colour-coded report, has given red marks to several facilities at all three Sri Lankan venues.
"If construction is not completed by January 15, it is not possible to confirm that the venues will be in a suitable condition to be handed over by January 31", the report stated.
This inspection team will take a final decision whether these venues will be used or the matches will be shifted to the back-up venues if the original venues fail to meet the required standard.
The SSC ground in Colombo and the Rangiri Dambulla stadium in Dambulla are the back-up venues that have been proposed by Sri Lanka Cricket to the ICC.
