CAB may invite Asif Iqbal for Eden Garden's 150th year celebrations

The Cricket Association of Bengal officials are planning to rope in a clutch of former international cricketers including former Pakistan captain Adif Iqbal during an 'International Seminar' in December to commemorate the 150th year of Eden Gardens' inception.

As part of its "international" seminar on Eden Gardens 150th year celebrations, the Cricket Association of Bengal has plans to invite former cricketers like that of Asif Iqbal who had played his last Test at the Eden.

"It's difficult to disclose the names as the talks are going on at the moment and nothing has been finalised. But we plan to invite former cricketers like that of Asif Iqbal with some memories associated with the iconic stadium," CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey told reporters today.

Iqbal has a special connection with Eden Gardens, where bid adieu to international cricket in-front of 90,000 supporters who gave him a standing ovation. The CAB also plans to unveil a memorial postal stamp and cover on the occasion with a sketch of the Eden by Jogen Chowdhury. "He had done a nice job with Sachin Tendulkar's portrait during the 199th and penultimate Test and we will also request him to sketch the Eden of the past and present," the CAB official added.

The CAB also plans to organise the invitational pre-season tournament of about five teams as part of the celebrations in October-November.

The CAB has lined up a host of events as part of the celebrations which will begin with book release on October 18 and Pataudi Memorial Lecture (organized by the BCCI) the next day, on the eve of the India-West Indies fifth and final ODI.