Sport

Organisers promise spectator friendly World Cup

BHURBAN (Pakistan): The South Asian Nations hosting the 2011 cricket World Cup promised on Monday to hold a spectator-friendly tournament with affordable ticket prices.

The pledge by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh comes after the 2007 edition held in the West Indies was widely criticised for failing to draw crowds and being too long.

“We promise a spectator and media-friendly World Cup in four years time,” Sharad Pawar, Chairman, 2011 World Cup Organising Committee, said after its meeting here.

“We will make unrelenting efforts to make the event a spectacular one so that more and more people come and watch the best cricket,” Pawar, who is also the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said.

High-priced tickets ranging from $25 to 75 hit attendance levels in the 2007 World Cup. Spectators were also barred from bringing in musical instruments until protests forced the organisers to relent.

Pawar said he did not want to comment on whether there were lessons to be learnt from the Caribbean event, “but surely it’s a pertinent issue and will be discussed at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting later this month.”

He said, “we assure that prices of the tickets will be affordable to the local paying capacity,” Pawar said.

He added that the committee was looking at common visas for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, following a pattern established by Caribbean Nations for this year’s competition.

“The possibility of a common visa will also be explored through talks with Governments,” Pawar said. — AFP

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu