Cricket-Sabina not ready for practice on eve of opener

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 12 (Reuters) Pakistan and West Indies were on Monday forced to scrap plans to practise at Sabina Park, which hosts tomorrow's World Cup opener between the sides, because the facilities were not ready.

They instead trained at the nearby Kensington Oval in Kingston.

''If you're asking why it's happened you're talking to the wrong man,'' Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer told a news conference today.

''We would rather practise on good facilities than facilities that are not ready.'' The West Indies were awarded the World Cup in 1998.

West Indies captain Brian Lara likened the problem as a ''little hiccup''.

''From what I have seen so far, all the local organising committees have tried their best,'' he told a news conference at the Oval.

''I think they know the importance of this tournament. Each big tournament and each event like the Olympics, although I have never been involved, they all have little hiccups.

''I am sure that the people will enjoy the Caribbean and we are going to stage the best tournament possible.

''I am not going to say there are not going to be any mishaps but I am almost sure there is not going to be anything major.

''Whoever raises the trophy on the 28th (of April), I am sure it's going to be a great occasion.'' There was nobody immediately available from the Jamaican organising committee to comment on what the problems precisely were at Sabina Park or the reasons behind them.

The ICC were investigating the matter and declined to comment immediately.

Tuesday's Group D match will kick off seven weeks of action between 16 teams culminating with the final at Kensington Oval, Barbados on April 28.

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