GROS ISLET (St Lucia), April 27: Former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Ehsan Mani described the 2007 World Cup as ‘absolutely wonderful’, noting the exposure which the tournament generated for the sport should help push cricket’s global development.

Mani, who witnessed the 2007 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa here on Wednesday, said the ICC is “consciously trying to develop cricket around the world, adding the biggest medium to getting this message out there has been TV, media exposure which the game has had in countries such as China”.

The spectacle of the event in the Caribbean being shown to billions of people worldwide has been amazing and could increase interest in the sport, said Mani, a Pakistani who stepped down from ICC's top post last July.

Mani added legacy of the 2007 World Cup for the region will be the magnificent stadiums which have been either built or almost completely refurbished for the showpiece tournament.—Agencies