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1996 inquiry report had wanted capacity at Eden reduced

Arup Chanda in Calcutta

Calcuttans hung their heads in shame over the behaviour of a section of the crowd at Eden Gardens on Saturday. A record of sorts was created at the Eden today as the first Asian Test was concluded with emptied galleries.

What happened today was a repetition of the incident during the 1996 World Cup semifinal.

It was the same pan masala-chewing, safari-clad and cellphone-toting brigade which started shouting "Pakistan murdabad" while a majority of the crowd, which had been waving flags of both countries, stood helpless, not daring to stop these people.

During the 1996 semi-final, India was playing Sri Lanka. But to the surprise of many, the crowd started shouting "Pakistan hai hai." When India was all set to lose the match against Sri Lanka missiles were thrown onto the ground. Even match referee Clive Lloyd was not spared when he came out for inspection. An empty liquor bottle landed near his feet. Newspapers were gathered to set the galleries aflame.

Lloyd had no choice. The match was called off and awarded to the Sri Lankans. The Calcutta media then raised a hue and cry, condemning such behaviour. Columnists analysed how such a ruckus could occur at Eden Gardens.

The West Bengal government promptly ordered an inquiry conducted by state Sports Secretary Sumantra Chowdhury. He submitted a detailed report, but it was not made public.

On Friday when trouble erupted after Sachin Tendulkar was declared run out, Chowdhury was sitting at the club house next to a journalist.

As mineral water bottles, fruits and other missiles aimed at the Pakistani fielders landed within the ground and the police did not enter the galleries, Chowdhury recalled his report. He had suggested that the capacity at Eden Gardens be reduced by at least 30 per cent so that there could be a sufficient gap between the spectators, and security personnel could make their way inside the galleries.

The stadium's capacity is 100,000. But usually there are at least 10,000 more people during any match at Eden Gardens.

However, the Cricket Association of Bengal did not agree with Chowdhury's suggestion. That would have meant a reduction in gate money.

As trouble broke out, what was the police doing?

More than 10,000 policemen were deployed for the match. Most of them were posted outside the stadium and were busy checking tickets of spectators hundreds of yards from the ground.

Calcutta Police officials had claimed that even if one spectator threw an orange onto the ground he would be arrested. During Friday's disruption of play the police looked the other way at first. After Sachin and International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya went around the ground, the police arrested 18 people on charges of creating trouble.

When the game was disrupted by stones on Saturday, senior Calcutta police officials had no option but to announce that play would not be resumed until the galleries were vacated.

This indicated the flaws in the security arrangements and have raised questions about the Calcutta police's efficiency.

Today, there is only one topic being discussed at the addas of Calcutta. Bengalis want to know if any team will agree to play cricket at Eden Gardens after Saturday's incident.

Soccer violence in Calcutta is not new. But that stopped after 16 men were killed in the early seventies during an East Bengal-Mohun Bagan match.

At Eden Gardens a Test was first disrupted in a series when India played the West Indies. Violence had erupted and tarpaulin sheets meant to protect spectators were set ablaze. The crowd ran onto the ground and the pitch was destroyed.

But that had nothing to do with cricket. It occurred after policemen beat up a middle-aged man, and some spectators intervened. The police conducted a lathicharge when the crowd attacked them.

According to most Calcuttans, Friday's disruption of play is certainly condemnable, but at the same time understandable because of the controversial manner in which Sachin got out.

But many blame the Bengali media for what happened on Saturday.

At the end of play on Friday, the match was poised in Pakistan's favour, but the Bengali press raised the hopes of cricket fans. Screamed the lead story in Ananda Bazar Patrika, the most widely circulated Bengali daily, 'India’s fate is in Bengal's hands' with a shoulder headline – 'Saurav's battle to be a superstar'

Another daily, Aajkaal, known for its good sports coverage, ran its lead story with the headline which said something like the superman falls due to accident but 'Maharaj will grab Eden' meaning that though Sachin has failed it is Saurav who will lead the team to victory.

Bartaman, another Bengali daily, wrote, 'Dramatic end expected, Crowd burning with emotion' and 'Saurav is now the hope'.

Even Sunil Gavaskar's analysis in Aajkaal carried the headline, 'There is no doubt Sachin was out – Saurav only can bring victory'.

Spectators who went to Eden Gardens this morning had their hopes raised high. Perhaps they overlooked Ganguly's reaction when former India cricketer Gopal Bose telephoned him last night to remind him of the unsurmountable task he was expected to perform on Saturday.

Saurav Ganguly replied without any trace of emotion that he would try his best, but he was not a superman.

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