The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday sent its officials to inspect Eden Gardens as part of preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. After the visit, the ICC “expressed satisfaction” with the venue’s facilities ahead of the event, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
The ICC visit to Eden Gardens came a day after it issued a final ultimatum to the Bangladesh Cricket Board to play their World Cup matches at the scheduled venues. Eden Gardens is set to host three of Bangladesh’s group-stage games in the 2026 T20 World Cup, unless Bangladesh are replaced by Scotland.
ICC Confirms Eden Gardens Ready For T20 World Cup
Officials from the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) carried out a joint review of Eden Gardens to assess World Cup readiness.
The inspection covered the pitch, seating areas, corporate sections, and other stadium facilities. Notably, the Cricket Association of Bengal said that the visiting officials were satisfied with the arrangements and expressed confidence about delivering a successful World Cup at the venue.
“The ICC team visited the iconic ground, corporate boxes and looked into all the facilities at the stadium and expressed happiness and said the International cricket body is eagerly looking forward to host a successful World Cup,” stated the CAB, as quoted by PTI.
Eden Gardens’ Pitch Under Spotlight Ahead of T20 World Cup
Eden Gardens faced questions over pitch conditions in November 2025 after a two-day Test against South Africa. The surface sparked debate, but the ICC later graded it as satisfactory.
Match referee Richie Richardson supported that view, while India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the pitch behaved unusually without calling it unsafe.
The Kolkata venue will play a key role in the T20 World Cup. It is set to host five group matches, including one of the three opening-day games on February 7. Eden Gardens will also stage a Super Eight match and could host a semifinal.
The semifinal depends on Pakistan’s progress in the tournament. If Pakistan reach the last four, their match will be played in Colombo, as their knockout fixtures have already been allocated there to avoid geopolitical issues with India.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup Participation Still In Doubt
Bangladesh remain unsure about travelling to India for the T20 World Cup after sports adviser Asif Nazrul said that the ICC’s security assessment was not acceptable.
The standoff intensified after Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the IPL on the BCCI’s instructions. Since then, the Bangladesh Cricket Board have continued to refuse a tour of India, even as the ICC declined requests to shift their matches elsewhere.
The ICC has warned the BCB that refusing to travel will result in Bangladesh being removed from the tournament. In that scenario, Scotland, the highest-ranked T20I side outside the 20-team field, would replace them.
Meanwhile, the Cricket Association of Bengal held a special meeting with senior Kolkata Police officials to address the concerns raised by Bangladesh. Police officials assured that enhanced security will be provided for all teams during the tournament.
