Ali Bacher working towards a memorable World Cup

By Vijay Lokapally

HARARE, JULY 1. Ali Bacher is hailed as the guru who introduced technology to cricket in the modern era. A promoter of innovations aimed at boosting the image of the game, this cricketer-turned-administrator promises more such ventures to help the game maintain its high profile in the times to come.

For Bacher, the current obsession is staging the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, a dream which he brought home through some excellent work in the international field. As the Executive Director of the 2003 World Cup organising committee, Bacher has little time for anything other than cricket.

On a visit to Zimbabwe to assess the facilities at the cricket grounds, he met the Indian media to share his views on the forthcoming World Cup and his role in making it a grand success. Zimbabwe has been alloted six matches and Bacher is keen that nothing was left to chance.

Did he expect Zimbabwe to match the infrastructure of South Africa?. ``Of course it has to. Zimbabwe is part of the organisation. It's important that the standards we keep in South Africa are maintained in Zimbabwe. We would maintain complete control on the organisation because the World Cup has been awarded to South Africa. We have given six matches to Zimbabwe and it's a unique opportunity for the Zimbabweans to take cricket on a large scale to the black people.''

Security - top priority

Among the top priority assignments was studying the security arrangements. Bacher and his team left instructions and disclosed their plans for the matches in South Africa. ``We have a philosophy in South Africa that the playing field should be an exclusive domain of the umpires and players. We've appointed a security directorate. In this we have top people from security officials from South Africa. From the time the umpire and players get on to the field, to the time they leave the field, we do not want one spectator on the field, during the 54 matches. We're obsessed about that. We'll give them an implicit directive, to ensure that not one spectator gets on the field,'' said Bacher on the security arrangements.

He pointed out that the event was invaluable for South Africa. ``The 2003 World Cup is very, very important for us. It's important for the country. The country needs a world event like this, driving all the people together, to unite all the people, to racially integrate the people, It's come at the right time and the government is aware of the importance of this event. It's not only cricket. It's about unification of all South Africans, about job opportunities for black and white South Africans, about empowering black people, through this World Cup. In terms of crisis in world cricket, it's come at the right time. We would've a clean, vibrant, dynamic World Cup,'' he promised.

In Bacher's opinion, the key players were the cricketers. ``It's not about the administrators. We'll make sure that there are conditions where they could perform to the maximum of their ability and potential. It relates to their travel, their accommodation, their practice facility, to the pitches which must be good. The ball must come on to the bat. We'll look to create the right environment, so the players can perform to their maximum. We must also project to the world, to the global audience that it's a magnificent game,'' he read out the plans.

World Cup ambassadors

Bacher also talked about the concept of appointing ambassadors for the World Cup. ``In South Africa we've former great cricketers with integrity and credibility. We would invite similar greats from other parts of the world to stay in South Africa for two weeks. We hope they would promote South Africa and world cricket. We would ask them to go into the township, attend development clinics, to be present at the World Cup matches, to go to the sponsor's lunches, to be available to the media, to promote the World Cup. Sunil Gavaskar is held in high regard in South Africa. He's a legend. He's the first such ambassador appointed by us.''

On his love for innovations, Bacher said he would support greater use of technology. ``I would do everything to make it easier for the umpires. Sometimes the difference is of mere two-three millimetres. It's impossible for the naked eye to say if it was pitched on the leg stump or outside. In that situation it would be good if the standing umpire goes to the TV umpire. The other situation is the point of contact at the time of playing a shot. Is it outside the off stump or between wicket and wicket, and for a naked eye it is impossible to judge. It's something we can really work upon.''

Bacher admitted there were moves to ask the third umpire judge no-balls in South Africa's domestic cricket. ``We've spoken about it (the no-ball being referred to the third umpire.) The standing umpire has a tough time looking down at the bowler's foot and then at the batsman. The poor man has no chance. I would say that technology should be utilised. Like in Wimbledon. If an umpire can be helped to call a no-ball, it should be used. I'm just expressing my viewpoint. You cannot go against modern technology. It's like asking a bank today not to use the internet. You got to advance. You got to progress. I'm sure it will happen. I know there would be resistance, for there is always resistance to change.''

Throwing light on some of the changes in the staging of matches, Bacher said ``we had asked for a few changes. One is that for every game there would be a reserve day. But if you don't complete 25 overs, you play a new game the next day. That's been approved. The second point is if you don't complete 25 overs in a day-night match the second day will be a day-night game, The third point is, as you know in the 1999 World Cup, in the league stage if you won a match you got two points, and if you got into the super six, and you beat a team that goes into the super six, you carried those two points forward. I've strongly suggested that, if you win a match in the super six, you should've have three points, and not two points.''

The playing conditions, Bacher informed, will be formalised by the end of this year. ``We'll make it an event to remember. It's a matter of great pride for all South Africans,'' he concluded.

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