CAB Wants Harsha Bhogle & Doull Out Of Commentary Box - Report
The flashpoint appears to be Simon Doull's comments during a discussion on Cricbuzz, where he questioned the curator's cooperation with KRR, the home franchise.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 rolls on, a fresh controversy has surfaced ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) clash.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has reportedly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to bar commentators Harsha Bhogle and Simon Doull from covering any IPL matches at Eden Gardens for the remainder of the season.
According to a report by RevSportz, CAB submitted a strongly worded letter to the BCCI expressing its displeasure over comments made by Bhogle and Doull regarding the Eden Gardens pitch. The association took particular exception to criticism aimed at the venue's head curator.
Eden Gardens Drama Explained!
The flashpoint appears to be Simon Doull's comments during a discussion on Cricbuzz, where he questioned the curator's cooperation with the home franchise.
Doull remarked, "If he's (the curator) not taking heed of what the home team wants… I mean, they are paying the stadium fees, they are paying for what's going on in the IPL but if he's still not paying heed of what the home team wants, then just move the franchise away to somewhere else. His job is not to pass an opinion on the game. That's not what he's paid for."
Harsha Bhogle had also voiced concerns about the playing surface at Eden Gardens, further fueling the CAB's response.
"If they are playing at home, (they) should get the tracks that they think are suited for their bowlers. I saw something (about) what the KKR curator has said,” he had said.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has come out in strong defense of its pitch curator, firmly stating that no IPL franchise has the right to influence or dictate the nature of the pitch at any venue. The CAB reiterated that pitch preparation falls strictly under the jurisdiction of the ground staff and must adhere to BCCI regulations.
In recent matches at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, the pitches have tended to favor pacers, resulting in several high-scoring contests. This has reportedly caused some dissatisfaction within the KKR camp, who would prefer spin-friendly conditions to better suit the strengths of their key spinners like Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
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