India's cricket chiefs were Tuesday searching for a venue to host a Test match against New Zealand in November after both Kolkata and Kanpur declined. The second Test of the three-match series had been allotted to Kanpur, but the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association backed out citing the non-availability of the government-owned Green Park stadium. The Cricket Association of Bengal also refused an offer from the Indian board to hold the Test, saying Kolkata's Eden Gardens was being renovated for next year's World Cup. “The renovation work would have to be stopped for some time if we accepted the proposal to host the Test,” CAB official Chitrak Mitra said. “We need time to get the Eden Gardens ready for the World Cup.” National cricket board spokesman Rajiv Shukla said the venue for the Test would be finalized soon. New Zealand is due to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals during the six-week tour starting on Oct. 31. The first Test will be played in Ahmedabad from Nov. 4 to 8 and the third in Nagpur over Nov. 20-24. Nagpur, the home of Indian board president Shashank Manohar, was added to the itinerary after Mumbai refused to hold a Test at the under-renovation Wankhede Stadium. The Wankhede is the venue for three World Cup matches, including the final on April 2. Eden Gardens is due to host four World Cup games. Bangladesh drops Iqbal Bangladesh's in-form batsman Tamim Iqbal will miss next month's five-match one-day series against New Zealand because of a wrist surgery. Left-hand opener Shahriar Nafees was recalled to the 14-man squad to fill in, chief selector Rafiqul Alam said Tuesday. Iqbal underwent left wrist surgery in Australia Monday and will be out for six to eight weeks. In another squad change, experienced batsman Mohammad Ashraful was dropped because of poor form, Alam said. The opening match of the series will be held on Oct. 5 at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Squad: Masrafe Bin Mortaza (captain), Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Shahriar Nafees, Imrul Kayes, Zunaed Siddique, Roqibul Hassan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Jahirul Islam, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Sohrawordhi.
