Countdown to 2011 World Cup begins
|
The International Cricket Council on
Friday marked a year's countdown to the World Cup by promising a
successful event in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The 14-nation showpiece event, held every four years, opens on
February 19, 2011 with India taking on Bangladesh at the Mirpur
stadium near Dhaka.
“I believe it will be one of the great sporting occasions of |
|
our time,” ICC chief executive Haroon
Lorgat said in a statement.
“Given the passion the subcontinent has for cricket and the
tremendous commitment shown so far by the hosts, everyone is even
more thrilled and convinced that it will be another successful World
Cup.”
The 43-day tournament will be played across 13 venues in India, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh and ends with the final at the under-renovation
Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2.
|
 |
Pakistan, the fourth Test-playing nation in Asia, were removed
as co-hosts due to security concerns in the volatile nation.
Tournament director Ratnakat Shetty of India said preparations
were in full swing in all three countries.
“All three co-hosts are fully geared to host the event,” said
Shetty. “A lot of energy, effort and investment is |
being pumped into improving the infrastructure
in the various stadia.”
Australia, looking for their fourth successive
World Cup title, showed their prowess by winning
the Champions Trophy in South Africa last year.
“Over the past six months, we've developed a
versatile squad which has experienced success in
all conditions,” the ICC statement quoted
Australian captain Ricky Ponting as saying.
“One of the strengths of the team during this
time has been the depth and quality of players
we've been able to call on.
“There's a lot of hard work to be done before
the World Cup but I'm confident we'll arrive in
the subcontinent well-prepared to win a fourth
straight title.”
The other teams in the fray will be England,
South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand,
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Zimbabwe, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands and
Kenya.
|
