The ticket and mascot launch of the tenth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was held at the Taj Samudra in Colombo graced by the ICC Vice President Sharad Pawar, its Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat and Professor Ratnaker Shetty the tournamet director of the ICC world Cup 2011.
The count down to the ICC World Cup 2011 begins...
President Mahinda Rajapaksa takes charge of the ceremonial First Ticket for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 from Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council Haroon Logart and Vice President of ICC Sharad Pawar at the ICC Cricket World Cup ticket and mascot launch on Friday. Also in the picture are Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge. Accompanying picture on right shows the mascot. India and Bangladesh are co-hosting the flagship 14-nation showpiece event, held every four years, which opens on February 19, 2011 with India taking on Bangladesh. - Ranjith Perera was there to take pictures. |
The mega event held every four years will be co hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka with Pakistan being forced to pull out due to security reasons.
Sharad Pawar briefing the media said that the reason for the launch of the ticket mascot on this date was because exactly from April 2 is 365 days away for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final to be held at the Wankenda Stadium in Mumbai, India.
“This is the third such programme that we are holding with regard to the ICC Cricket World Cup having earlier held one in Mumbai and Dhaka. We have a central organizing committee to look into the progress that is being made in the three countries.” Speaking further he emphasized that this programme is being held to brief the media of the overall progress in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup. “I am happy and delighted to say that all arrangements with regard to this are being expedited with success, there is good progress being made. This includes the security aspect which is one of the main areas in conducting tournaments of this nature.”
Continuing he said: “We had a discussion with the ticketing arrangement and our aim is to rake in youngsters to witness the matches and see that the venues are full. For that we want to see that ticket prices should be affordable to those wanting to come. The stadiums should be full unlike in the previous edition which was held in the West Indies and it’s left to the host countries to decide on this issue.”
The CEO of ICC Haroon Lorgat stated that tickets will be available on line from June 1. “Though some of the stadiums are under construction we are satisfied that they will be completed on time. Nevertheless the sale of tickets on line will begin on the said date.”
 Lorgat speaking on the sensitive issue of holding the ticket and mascot launch on a day where the Christians around the world celebrate Good Friday or Holy Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, said: “Of course the ICC was sensitive in cultural diversity and has mentioned by the vice president the date was decided because it will 365 days from this date when the final is played in Mumbai on April 2 2011.”
Professor Ratnaker Shetty, tournament director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 briefing on the tournament structure said that all matches that were to be played in Pakistan has been shifted to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and India will not host a single match that was scheduled to be played in Pakistan. Bangladesh will host eight matches which include six group matches and two quarter finals. Sri Lanka will host 12 matches amounting to ten group matches a quarter final and a semi final.
India will hold the bulk of the matches wherein they will be hosting 29 matches inclusive of 26 group matches, one quarter final, one semi final and the final.
The International Cricket Council on Friday said it was working to ease visa complications for overseas fans wishing to travel to the 2011 World Cup on the Indian sub-continent.
Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh who are co-hosting the flagship event have promised to speed-up and simplify the visa issuing process, ICC vice president Sharad Pawar told reporters in Colombo.
“With a valid ticket, the visa process for the matches will be made easier,” Pawar said after a meeting of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 central organizing committee in Colombo. 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.
While Sri Lanka allows visa on arrival for foreign tourists for up to 30 days, tourists traveling to India need to apply in advance for a single-entry visa.
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