India's Eden awaits World Cup verdict

NEW DELHI: Under-fire officials at India's Eden Gardens in Kolkata expressed confidence about hosting their share of World Cup matches ahead of a final inspection of the famous ground on Monday.

The stadium was stripped of the high-profile match between India and England on February 27 because of concerns about unfinished renovation work, echoing the shambolic buildup to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year.

The match has since been shifted to Bangalore.

A decision on whether Kolkata will host the remaining three World Cup matches -- none of these involving India -- would be taken after an International Cricket Council inspection on Monday.

A Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official said all the concrete and structural steel work had been completed and workers were busy dismantling their set-ups.

"We will be working till everything is complete," CAB joint-secretary Biswarup Dey was quoted as saying by the Kolkata-based Telegraph newspaper. "We are confident of being 100 percent ready."

In a letter to the Indian board, the ICC had outlined a schedule of works that needed to be carried out at the Edens before the other World Cup matches at the ground.

The stadium is due to host South Africa v Ireland on March 15, Ireland v the Netherlands on March 18 and Zimbabwe v Kenya on March 20.

The World Cup, being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, begins on February 19.