England not to take up practice issue with ICC

Kolkata, January 14: The England team management continued to grumble over the poor practice facilities at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club ground but ruled out the possibility of taking up the matter with the International Cricket Council.

''We are not taking up the matter at the highest level. It is a trivial issue to be taken up with the International Cricket Council'', the Media Relations Manager Andrew Walpole told reporters after a practice session at the CCFC ground here today.

Walpole said that the team management had discussions about the sub-standard practice facilities with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) but had never thought of taking up the issue with the games apex body.

The England team had lambasted the practice facilities at the venue from the very first day and had requested the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to allow the team to work at the Eden Gardens.

The England coach Duncan Fletcher told reporters yesterday that the facilities at the CCFC were not of international standard and his team's preparations for the six-match limited overs series were being badly hampered.

The England team's request to practice at the Eden Gardens was, however, turned down by the CAB for security reasons creating much resentment among the visitors.

The team also took up the matter with the Indian Cricket Board but without much luck as the BCCI said that security and logistical problems stood in the way of acceding to the visitors' demand.

"England's practice schedule at the CCFC was decided much before the team left London for India'', BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya said yesterday.

He said the stadium was still being readied and the logistics were being put in place. "There are so many people on the ground and the club house. So, how can we allow them to practise there now?"

The work at the Eden Gardens will be completed by tomorrow and the visitors will have their nets at the match venue as per the original schedule.

"What can we do if they want to practise at the Eden for seven days at a stretch before such a crucial match? Will they give the Lords ground to a visiting Indian side for that many days for practice in similar situations?" Dalmiya asked.