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| March 23, 2003 | Sunday | Muharram 19, 1424 |
Tournament too long, admits Ali Bacher
JOHANNESBURG, March 22: World Cup supremo Dr Ali Bacher admitted on Saturday the 44-day tournament was “too long” even though he supported adding more non-Test playing nations to the fold.
“I think there is a scope to add two more teams although I personally feel the tournament was too long,” Dr Bacher told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s final.
“Kenya making the semifinals has signalled the game is growing in Africa with more black people taking up the sport.
“When I met former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke during the Sydney Olympics, he asked me how long the World Cup would be.
“When I told him 44 days, he said ‘Ali, that’s going to an event of biblical proportions.’ He was right.”
Kenya, Canada, Holland and Namibia were the four minnow teams which took part in the 54-match tournament along with the 10 Test-playing nations.
But Dr Bacher was pleased the tournament, which began on Feb 8 with the opening ceremony in Cape Town, will end with what he believed was going to be a “dream final.”—AFP
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