Any time the Eden gets ready to host an international or an IPL game, a relatively big gathering around the Maidan and the iconic venue is a familiar sight. And so it was on Friday too.
Bangladesh take on the Netherlands here on Saturday for the first of the five matches Eden will be hosting during this edition of the World Cup.
But wait a minute, the crowd assembled were hardly interested in Saturday’s game and more keen on the Durga Puja carnival that began in the city on Friday evening. In fact, most people barely had any idea about the upcoming game — the first 50-over World Cup match the 65,000-capacity stadium is hosting in 12 years.
It should have been an ideal occasion for the World Cup’s “return” to Eden with its new seats and interiors so well decorated and refurbished. But what it has to deal with is a complete lack of interest in the “opener”.
Bangladesh’s Litton Das during practice at Eden Gardens on Friday. Santosh Ghosh/PTI
The fact that Bangladesh and the Netherlands have fared poorly in the competition so far is also a reason for the lack of interest.
The only ones remotely interested are the thousand or two Bangladeshi fans who are here to watch the match. As the Shakib-Al Hasan-led side trained at the ground on Friday afternoon, some of the supporters yelled and screamed, “C’mon Bangladesh, C’mon”. But still, the overall turnout is unlikely to be too impressive.
“At best, it could be 20,000, which doesn’t look good, especially as the Eden Gardens’ capacity is 65,000. Few people had turned up at the offline counter (at the Mohammedan Sporting ground) yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday). The online purchase figures haven’t been too encouraging either, so you can imagine how many seats would be filled up,” a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) insider said on Friday.
Mahmudullah during practice at Eden Gardens. Santosh Ghosh/PTI
“First, it is the festive period and then, the ticketing issue with the International Cricket Council calling the shots didn’t go down well with the clubs and members of the association.”
Although the CAB is optimistic about a decent turnout on Saturday, even for Tuesday’s clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh they expect the attendance to be low.
“The wait is for the November 5 game when India face South Africa. There are plans of a laser show and a short cultural programme, where Shilpa Rao (who sang Chaleya in Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan) may perform,” another CAB source said.
So far as Bangladesh are concerned, from hereon all matches are must-wins for Shakib and Co., who have only won one of their five matches.
According to team sources, they will have special hilsa from the Padma at the hotel and the ground on Saturday but to savour it, they first need to perform in the middle. In their way are Scott Edwards’ Dutchmen, who are quite capable of making things tricky for their opponents. Just ask the South Africans.
