New surface at the Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens sees change of pitch but not date

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which is working in conjunction with the Kolkata Knight Riders, has announced that the next game at the Eden Gardens will be played on a new surface. A CAB spokesperson also confirmed that the game, against Mumbai Indians, would go ahead on schedule after concerns were raised about the previous pitch, on which a low-scoring thriller was played out. The original surface came in for a lot of criticism, with VVS Laxman, the Deccan Chargers' captain, calling it "shocking."

Bar on cheerleaders for Mumbai's home games?

The Mumbai Indians' next home game on April 27 may not feature the much talked about cheerleaders. Though there is no official word as yet, a minister in the Maharashtra government spoke out against them. "We live in India where womanhood is worshipped. How can anything obscene like this can be allowed?," asked Siddharam Mhetre, the minister of state for home affairs.