March 13, 2007	Tuesday	Safar 23, 1428

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TRELAWNY (Jamaica), March 12: The 2007 Cricket World Cup, the first to be held in the Caribbean, was opened here on Sunday in a three-hour, two-million dollar opening ceremony.

Sir Garfield Sobers, arguably the greatest player the game has ever known, declared the 16-team, 49-day, 51-match tournament open.

“On behalf of the West Indies, it is my honour and privilege to declare the ninth ICC Cricket World Cup officially open,” said Sobers.Chris Dehring, the chief executive of the organising committee, said the Caribbean was the ideal place to host the event which has cost in the region of 400 million dollars to stage.

“The world will see the best cricketers competing against the backdrop of one of the most blessed places on the planet,” he said.

“They will see exciting cricket inspired by the rhythm and soul of the West Indies.”

He added that the tournament was the reward for years of “sweat and tears, hard work and sacrifice”.

Ricky Ponting, the skipper of defending champions Australia, said he was keen to get the action underway.

“This is a huge night,” he said. “Our preparations have been really good and now we are looking forward to getting the tournament underway.”

The three-hour ceremony at the Trelawny Stadium featured a host of Caribbean entertainers including reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and Shaggy.

Titled West Indian Energy, the two-million-dollar event also involved around more than 2,000 singers, dancers and performers.

In all, 16 teams will play a total of 51 matches at grounds spread around nine different Caribbean nations, with the final in Barbados on April 28.

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Percy Sonn told the crowd: “All cricket lovers know about the riches the players from the West Indies have brought to this marvellous game.

“It is more than appropriate that the World Cup is staged here for the first time.

“In as much as the West Indies represents unity and diversity, so do the countries taking part with all drawn from the five continents. The tie that binds us is the one we call the spirit of cricket.

“We will honour the ethics of the game under all circumstances.”

Sonn added that throughout the tournament, players will wear ribbons to show their support for AIDS awareness as well as their backing for UNICEF.

Record-breaking West Indies skipper Brian Lara read the players pledge.

There was loud applause for Grenada premier Keith Mitchell, whose country will host matches two years after being ravaged by a second hurricane, as well as for Jamaica prime minister Portia Simpson Miller and Jamaican reggae singer Sean Paul.

All 16 competing teams took part in a parade around the stadium.

Despite the optimism of the ceremony, the tournament has been dogged by problems in the build-up with many stadiums facing construction delays while some hotel operators have been accused of profiteering by trebling rates.

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.—AFP