Caribbeans not happy with ICC’s conduct of WC

Elmo Rodrigopulle in West Indies

WORLD CUP: The Caribbean people are certainly not happy the way the International Cricket Council has conducted the World Cup 2007 tournament.

They reckon that the ICC has left the West Indies a US$ half a million in debt most of which is owned by the states that can ill afford it.

They also allege that the ICC stands to make a profit of US$ 294 million from the current World Cup. This is after allowing for the over US$ 2 million to the ultimate champions and big prize money to all other participating teams.

West Indians here are not at all happy the way the World Cup has been negotiated. They are also convinced that if the Champions Trophy is to be held in the Caribbean that the West Indies Cricket Board must negotiate a better deal.

Come back Brian Lara

It is the consensus here that master batsman Brian Lara should not have rushed into retirement, but played at least another season.

There have been calls for Lara to reconsider his decision from many quarters in the Caribbean.

The latest comes from the Sports Minister Rogers Boynes for Lara to reconsider his decision to retire.

In asking Lara to, reconsider his decision, the Sports Minister has told him that has just 47 runs to make for 12,000 runs.

Boynes spent much time at Lara’s hilltop residence on Lady Chancellor Hill, St. Anne’s and said that he came there more than a minister and came there as a Trinidadian. And while there he let Lara know that he is loved and supported.

Boynes said that he discussed a lot of topics with Lara including an appropriate way to honour Lara.

The Sports Minister said that what was discussed and certain things in the discussion would be taken to the Prime Minister.

Lara had a lot of criticism flung at him when his team failed to make it to the World Cup finals.

Record ticket sales

With attendance soaring beyond the 400,000 barrier following the Super 8 series World Cup cricket organisers said that the event was on course for a record.

According to Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc. 403,000 fans have already entered to watch the games following the Super 8s and with 570,000 tickets already sold, the tournament is on the verge of recording the highest ticketing revenue in the history of the event.

They are confident that they could record the highest ticketing revenue for a Cricket World Cup - beating the US$ 22 million in England in 1999 and US$ 10 million in South Africa in 2004.

The highest turn out for a match was 22,452 fans which witnessed the final round match between England and West Indies at Kensington Oval on Saturday. The tournament has averaged 8,500 fans per match.

The second highest attendance was seen at the Kensington Oval when England fronted up to South Africa with 17,013 cricket fans passing through the turnstiles. Pakistan’s first round clash with West Indies saw 16,574 taking in the action.

An increase in spectators was witnessed when several restrictions were relaxed for the Super 8 phase.

Kensington Oval, Barbados, Thursday