Grounds for concern as World Cup gets underway by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 11th March 2007

 

Sir Garfield Sobers will open the 2007 World Cup here later Sunday against a backdrop of unfinished venues and concerns over how pitches will play in the seven-week, 16-team tournament.

 

"It's a great honour to declare the Cricket World Cup open. I'm looking forward to the occasion," said 70-year-old Sobers, the legendary former West Indies all-rounder, who will be guest of honour at the two hour, 45-minute ceremony at the Trelawny Stadium.

 

But as the curtain goes up on the ninth cricket World Cup, problems which have dogged the Caribbean's first hosting of the tournament still exist.

 

Around 250 million dollars has been spent on building new or refurbishing existing stadiums mostly in partnership with foreign governments and with the Chinese heavily involved.

 

Venue development director Don Lockerbie said Sunday that not all grounds were 100-percent ready although he was confident that the shortcomings would not effect the event which runs until April 28.

 

"I think a lot of the venues have waited to the very last to get some of the final bits of construction in and, as a perfectionist, I'm a little disappointed that I don't see all the landscaping full out and the roads all paved and things around the stadiums finished," said Lockerbie.

 

"Construction is very difficult in this part of the world, but I will say we are ready. I will say we can put on a fabulous World Cup in these venues and I look for them maybe to mature in the future.

 

"I would have liked to believe we could have had them mature now but they are brand new and I almost feel like they are babies that have been pushed out of the nest. But they are all flying so that's good for us."

 

There are also concerns amongst players and coaches over the state of the pitches on which the matches will be played.

 

At the warm-up game between South Africa and Pakistan in Trinidad on Friday, the action was held up for 10 minutes as players and officials debated whether the wicket was fit to play.

 

South Africa slumped to 56-3 and then were all out for 199.

 

At Trelawny, on the same day, West Indies collapsed to 85 all out in their nine-wicket defeat to India.

 

"Judging from what we have seen and heard of the pitches, it seems that this World Cup will be a 'bowl first' tournament," said South Africa coach Mickey Arthur.

 

Sunday's 2.5-million-dollar opening ceremony, dubbed "West Indian Energy", will feature reggae star Jimmy Cliff as well as a cast and crew of around 2,000 singers, dancers and performers.

 

"It's a nice production," said Robert Bryan, head of the Jamaica local organising committee.

 

"It should be something that the region will be proud of. Everything has come together. For those who see it - the dancing and the colour, for those who will hear the music, it should be an unforgettable experience."

 

All 16 teams will enter the stadium before West Indies captain Brian Lara reads the Cricketers Declaration. West Indies umpire Steve Bucknor will follow with the Umpires and Officials Declaration and then Sobers will declare the tournament open.

 

The first match takes place at Sabina Park on Tuesday between hosts West Indies and Pakistan.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)