"The credit goes to each and everyone at CAB:" CAB President Avishek Dalmiya after hosting IPL playoffs successfully

Cricket Association Of Bengal (CAB) President Avishek Dalmiya was delighted with the 100% crowd that was back at the Eden Gardens after a long wait of 3 years. After hosting two IPL playoffs matches and two back-to-back T20 and One-Day finals of Club cricket, Avishek Dalmiya shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

The Cricket Association of Bengal hosted any IPL match after the long gap of three years. They not only hosted the playoffs successfully, but they were also able to host the matches with a full-house Eden Gardens. Even BCCI President Sourav Ganguly was full of praise for how CAB was able to host those two playoffs successfully.

"After a long wait of three years, two IPL matches took place at Eden. We were able to host the IPL last time in 2019. Meanwhile, in 2021, it was almost confirmed that the IPL matches will be held at Eden. The schedules were ready, the ground was ready with all the preparations. But, at the last moment when the Covid struck again the schedule was canceled and we were really upset with it. We expected that the matches will be played here," CAB President said.

"This season, we had expected that we will get to host all the home matches of KKR. But, BCCI decided to set the venues around Mumbai as they did not want air travel. We were disappointed. You have to remember that the World T20 was set to held in India, but BCCI had to organize the tournament in UAE for the Covid rising cases," he added further.

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"The credit goes to each and everyone at CAB:" Avishek Dalmiya

"We were very happy when Eden was declared as the host of IPL playoffs. Eden Gardens is always known for the crowds, cricket-loving people, fans and their support, and the roar. Earlier we had organized the third T20 match against New Zealand with a 70% crowd and the t20 match against West Indies with a 50% crowd. I was very happy to see the full-house Eden Gardens back after so many days. It was a team effort. Everyone at CAB worked day in and day out to make this successful. The credit goes to each and everyone at CAB" Avishek Dalmiya expressed.

"We have utilized the time well to finish T20 and One-Day tournaments"

"We had set the target that we will finish two tournaments, T20 and One day. Many people thought that we will not be able to finish the T20 because we had started late. But we have utilized the time well to finish T20 and One-Day tournaments despite being late for Covid and some of the board matches."

Due to Board matches and international games, CAB did not have the opportunity to use the Eden Gardens for local club games. Even BCA Kalyani Ground and JU Campus Ground were occupied with camps and other games. However, despite all the hiccups, the CAB President believes that they have done quite well to manage everything to finish the local tournaments.

"The ground at Kalyani was occupied due to North-East camps. Meanwhile, The Ranji Trophy which never takes place in June is happening now. Moreover, the office matches took place as well, which is obviously a good sign for the players. So, we were not able to finish the league tournament for all of this."

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League semis and final to start once the Bengal team comes back

The CAB President has told us that the semi-finals and final of the league tournament will take place once the Bengal team comes back from Ranji Trophy. CAB is trying to host those matches in Bangalore or Puducherry if rain hinders matches in Kolkata.

"We will try to host those matches in Kolkata but if rain comes in between we will shift those matches to Bangalore or Puducherry. Both the associations have already informed us that they are ready to host those matches," Avishek Dalmiya added.

Along with the club-level cricket, CAB is very focused to improve the district cricket as well. They are starting new programs to develop the grass-root level cricket to find new amazing talents.

"The cricket programs have started already. We are trying to pick young talents and give them the scope. We are heading towards that and we also believe that many players will come from here who will play for Bengal and India in near future"

"Just have to keep the nerves right:" Avishek Dalmiya

Bengal missed the silverware last time by an inch. Now, after topping the group stages, they surely can feel the scent of success after three decades.

"We topped the league stage and ranked no. 1 in the country. Not only in groups, but also in comparison with other groups we have topped the table. So, I think that things are all right. We just have to keep our nerves right. They have the potential to win the trophy. They have to keep their confidence high and keep believing in themselves. Our faith and wish are always with the Bengal team," he expressed.