The International Cricket Council has decided Kolkata's Eden Gardens stadium will not be ready to host its first World Cup game in 2011.
India and England were due to face off in Kolkata on February 27, but the ICC's decision means another venue will have to be found for the match.
In good news for tournament organisers, however, the ICC did approve Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium and three Sri Lankan venues - R Premadasa Stadium, Hambantota and Pallekele, all subject to minor work being carried out within the next fortnight.
"All venues had ample time in which to prepare for World Cup matches," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
"We had been understanding and had provided extensions to the deadline dates but unfortunately we are now at a point where we must carefully manage our risks."
"The COC (central organising committee) had provided venues with a deadline of 30 November 2010 to complete all construction work and then to be match-ready by 31 December."
"An extension was granted by the ICC for five venues, which were again inspected over the past week. Sadly, Eden Gardens in Kolkata was unable to meet the final deadline date of 25 January."
"Regrettably, Eden Gardens has not made sufficient progress to justify the level of confidence required to confirm that the venue would be ready in good time. This was no easy decision to take and while it is most unfortunate, it is absolutely necessary."
The ICC's move to deny Kolkata the match is a major embarrassment for Indian authorities, and there is still no guarantee the other three matches scheduled at Eden Gardens - Ireland play South Africa on March 15, the Netherlands on March 18, Kenya do battle with Zimbabwe on March 20 - will still go ahead at the venue.
"The ICC will inspect the venue on January 31 and take a decision by February 1 as to whether it would be possible to host the other three games," Board of Control for Cricket in India president Shashank Manohar said.
"Otherwise three alternate venues will need to be found."
The 2011 ICC World Cup begins on February 19 with a match between India and Bangladesh in Dhaka.