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| July 16, 2006 | Sunday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 19, 1427 |
World Cup cost perturbs top ICC official
DUBAI, July 15: International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed is concerned about spiralling costs involved in travelling to see World Cup next year in the Caribbean.
Most hotel beds in the Caribbean are at the top of range and length of the tournament is another factor.
Speed said: “The five-star hotels are very expensive. I hope when I go back there in August to quarterly board meeting of Cricket World Cup organising committee that we'll have some good news.”
He said cost for media personnel was of particular concern – they have to spend about 50 nights in the Caribbean to cover the whole event.
“At my first ICC meeting in 1997, ICC members granted World Cup to West Indies. I remember thinking at the time, That's a very brave decision I'll watch with interest World Cup in 2007, without realising I would be chief executive at that time.”
“There are nine islands involved, so nine grounds and 20 practice venues are being built for major matches. They are all being funded by various governments of West Indies so they're all right behind it.
“I think it will have a particularly West Indian favour and I think it will be great fun.”
But he said there remained other “areas of concern”.
“We have to get through another hurricane season over next three or four months – some of grounds have had problems with hurricanes.”
He said choosing to schedule event in March and April coincided with peak holiday season – thus higher prices. But he added: “Its safest time for us to play because later on we run into rainy season.”—Agencies
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