Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Thursday accused the ICC of conspiring against him when the world body shifted the IndiaEngland World Cup match from Eden Gardens.
"A great injustice had been done to CAB. While other stadia in the sub-continent were given time, we were not allowed to extend the period for the renovation work up to February 7," Dalmiya told reporters in Kolkata.
Asked whether shifting of the World Cup match was a "cricketing and political conspiracy" against him, the former ICC president countered "if this is not a conspiracy then what can be a conspiracy?"
"It was not cricket," he said.
Referring to his stint at the helm of ICC, Dalmiya said, "I was the President when the 1999 World Cup took place in England. I was also the BCCI President when the 2003 World Cup took place....(And this time) on behalf of the CAB I had assured that we would assist the ICC for any exercise and the CAB would be prepared to pay for all the additional expenses for the same.
"But the CAB's earnest request fell on deaf ears despite the fact that the scheduled India vs England match on February 27 was still 20 days away whereas other stadia in the sub-continent were allotted time for completion," he claimed.
Reiterating that "it is a tremendous injustice to Eden Gardens despite being often referred as the Mecca of cricket," Dalmiya rued, "the adamant stand of ICC has disappointed the cricket lovers of Bengal.
"I know how to deal in such situation. I could have asked for the Mumbai match, but I did not," he said.
The CAB President also wanted to know "how the Premadasa stadium in Sri Lanka is hosting a World Cup match."
