Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty Thursday assured Eden Gardens for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) matches and a permanent practice venue in the state, protesting against the Indian cricket board’s “high-handedness to turn everyone into its stooges”. Speaking at the glitzy re-launch of Kolkata Tigers club after its takeover by actor Mithun Chakraborty and its rechristening as Royal Bengal Tigers, the minister said: “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wants stooges. They have misunderstood us.”

“I have just ordered the additional chief secretary to give a formal permission to the IPL to hold the matches. Similarly, if the ICL approaches us, we see no reason for not allowing them to hold matches at Eden Gardens,” he said.

“Any new step needs some brainstorming and something good emerges out of it. It is not a controversy between IPL and ICL or a debate or dispute. The BCCI has misunderstood the efforts taken up by ICL. So they gave instruction to their players and bodies in such a manner as if all have to become their stooges in order to maintain their cricketing life,” he said.

“I must protest it. This is no way of tackling such a delicate situation. What will happen in future will have to be seen. Any new venture creates an impact on the society and ICL will have it,” said Subhas Chakraborty.

He took the opportunity to congratulate Mithun Chakraborty for the bold step of joining ICL and offered his full support to the cause.

“We have some 30 stadiums in the state from Siliguri to Contai. We will convert any one of the stadiums ICL wants into a cricket ground and make it their permanent practice venue. They are welcome in the state,” he said.

The IPL and ICL should be seen as a friendly contest and the sporting spirit should not be lost, the minister added.

Asked how will the matches be held at Eden after Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) renewed their lease, he said, “The West Bengal government will see it.”