India vs Windies: Sourav Ganguly insists Kolkata T20I will go ahead despite BCCI's new regulations

CAB president Sourav Ganguly has made it clear that the board will not back off from the decision of Kolkata hosting the first T20I between India and the Windies which is scheduled to be played on November 4. Ganguly said that the tickets for the match will be distributed as per the previous arrangement, despite the BCCI‘s new regulations and demands.

According to the newly-registered BCCI constitution, 90% of the tickets from the total capacity of the stadium should be put on public sale, which leaves only 10% that can be availed as complimentary tickets.

However, the former India captain asserted that the arrangements will not change. “The match is on. Tickets have already gone for printing and now nothing can be done. It will stay as it is,” Ganguly told reporters at Eden Gardens.

MPCA refused to host second ODI

Due to the issue with the BCCI’s regulations, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) has already refused to host the second ODI between the two teams on October 24. When asked about reasons behind their refusal, the board cited lack of clarity on the release of tickets and complimentary passes.

Likewise, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has said that it will not compromise on the issue, with Sourav Ganguly siding the MPCA’s decision. “I completely understand the problems faced by MPCA and I’m totally with them because the practical problems are never understood. Their claim is completely legitimate,” Ganguly had said earlier.

Currently, as many as 30,000 tickets from Eden Gardens’ capacity of 67,000 are distributed as complimentary passes. These are passed on to government agencies like Kolkata Police, the Corporation and the Fire brigade.

Ganguly backed his decision by saying, “I cannot go and ask the government agencies, bureaucrats – people who make the match happen – to collect tickets and pay. If they want (to take the game away), they can. But we are not going to compromise,” Ganguly said.

India are scheduled to play the Windies in a two-match Test series before taking them on in a limited-overs series consisting of five ODIs and three T20Is.

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