Eden to host India-Sri Lanka match with success: Mukherjee

Kolkata, Jan 27 (UNI) City Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, who is going to officially take over as CAB President on February, is ready for the challenge of hosting the India-Sri Lanka match in two weeks' notice.

Talking to UNI, he said, ''We are mentally prepared for any exigencies. It is a challenge and I am ready for it. Time is short and we have to work on a war footing'' Call it a sheer coincidence or sop, but Eden Gardens has been awarded with an international tie a day after Prasun Mukherjee emerged as an uncontested candidate for the post of CAB President.

India would take on Sri Lanka in the series opener on February 8. In this case Pune and Maharashtra cricket are the losers.

CAB Official, and one of the vital cogs in the new dispensation, told UNI, ''Last night Mr I S Bindra confirmed that the match will be played here on February eight.'' Asked about the state of preparations, he said, ''Its almost complete. The tickets have gone for print. The necessary agencies have swung into action. The match preparations will be completed in time.'' Mr Mukherjee said after taking office another important thing would be to get the dues from the BCCI. ''The first time I meet the BCCI officials I will take up the cause of CAB before them. I will have to explain to them that CAB and Mr Dalmiya are two different sets of things. So the state body should not be penalised.'' ''I am hopeful about getting the dues. But the first job at hand is to get the ODI completed in a fair manner and with success,'' he said.

The Indian board (BCCI) requested the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to replace Pune as the venue with Eden Gardens as according the board's rotation policy Kolkata is scheduled to host a match after Pune.

Dalmiya and the current BCCI administration had been on opposite sides at the last board elections in which Sharad Pawar, the current president of the BCCI, came to power. The BCCI stopped all subsidies and grants to the CAB after Dalmiya's alleged misappropriation of funds.

Mr Mukherjee said Shashank Manohar, the BCCI vice-president, had asked the CAB whether they were prepared to host the match. ''The official confirmation came last night,''Mr Mukherjee said.

Eden Gardens last hosted an ODI in November when South Africa beat India by 10 wickets.

UNI