Pawar conveys ICC decision to CM

Kolkata, Jan 30 (PTI) The ICC has formally conveyed itsdecision to the West Bengal Chief Minister BuddhadebBhattacharya that there will be no India vs England match atEden Gardens.

ICC chief Sharad Pawar called the chief minister in theevening to convey the decision, state Urban DevelopmentMinister Ashok Bhattacharjee said here this evening.

"The chief minister said it is very sad that after somuch effort by him the match could not be brought back. It''svery unfortunate," Bhattacharjee told PTI over phone fromSiliguri.

"The chief minister had tried his best, but it was notsuccessful... (ICC chief) Pawar called the Chief Ministeraround 7 pm and told him about the ICC''s decision that holdingthe match at Eden Gardens is impossible as eight members ofthe ICC are against it," Bhattacharjee said.



"Along with the whole state we are equally sorry, somuch effort went in vain. Me, former Indian captain SouravGanguly and PWD minister Kshiti Goswami were supposed to visitDelhi on February 1 as suggested by the CM, but everything hasbecome futile now," the minister rued.



The West Bengal chief minister had earlier intervenedin the matter after the ICC took the decision to shift theIndia match from Kolkata.