World Cup on display as countdown begins
The cricket World Cup trophy was displayed by South African players
Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn in the Dubai aquarium as the 100-day
countdown to the event began here Tuesday.
Morkel and Steyn, who were later joined by members of the South
African and Pakistani teams, dived into the aquarium to start the
ceremony which was also attended by officials of International Cricket
Council (ICC).
The opening ceremony of the World Cup will be held in Dhaka,
Bangladesh on February 17. India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka jointly host
the 10th World Cup from February 19 to April 2.
“It was spectacular to watch the 100-day countdown ceremony and the
ICC and the three host countries are gearing up for the World Cup,” ICC
chief executive Haroon Lorgat told reporters.
Pakistan were also due to co-host the 2011 party, but were stripped
of their rights due to security concerns in the volatile nation in the
aftermath of the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in March last
year.
Lorgat said he feels for Pakistan’s fans. “Due to unavoidable
circumstances we had to shift the matches from Pakistan and I welcome
all the fans there to come to Sri Lanka and support their team as they
always do,” said Lorgat.
Pakistan will play all its group matches in Sri Lanka.
The 43-day, 49-match tournament will be played under a new format
with India hosting a majority of matches (29), including the final at
the new-look Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2. DUBAI, AFP |