Hidden Gardens, thanks to KKR

That’s how Eden actually looks, with posters of Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Dhoni and Tendulkar on its facade. (Source: Express File)

Eden Gardens has got a purple makeover and this has made the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) see red. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have altered the stadium facade, hanging in a giant banner of Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Robin Uthappa, Sakib Al Hasan, Umesh Yadav and Piyush Chawla in their title-winning pomp.

Problem is the banner has put the national icons under wraps forcing the CAB to ask the KKR management to remove it with immediate effect.

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When the Eden underwent renovation ahead of the 2011 World Cup, the stadium facade too was changed. Large posters of Indian cricket’s golden moments were put up on the outer wall of the club house. It had Kapil Dev holding aloft the World Cup at Lord’s; Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman returning to the pavilion after their historic 376-run partnership against Australia in 2001. The renovated structure also had Sourav Ganguly’s giant leap after scoring his first Test hundred on home turf. The club house exterior beautifully captured the glories. The KKR banner has put them all under the cover.

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Cab fumes

Little wonder then that CAB joint-secretary Subir Ganguly fumed at the IPL franchise’s temerity. “As per the BCCI agreement, franchises have the branding rights at their home venues during the IPL. But this can’t be done at the expense of our cricketing glory. This time they’ve gone a little too far. I’ve spoken to their CEO Venky Mysore and asked him to remove the poster at the earliest,” Ganguly said.

According to him, Mysore tried to work out a solution. “He (Mysore) asked me to allow them retain it on match days. But I refused. Mysore would be coming to Kolkata on Tuesday morning and will have a meeting with (BCCI president) Jagmohan Dalmiya over the issue. I will be present. But let me assure you, there’s no question of a rethink. They’ve to remove it. Eden Gardens is one of the oldest institutions in world cricket and it deserves special treatment,” Ganguly added.

Source:: Indian Express