ICC launches official World Cup site, hopes for over 1 billion hits

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Buoyed by the over one billion hits on the Champions Trohpy website, the ICC today launched the official site for next month's World Cup in the West Indies, hoping to find close to 10 million users.

www.cricketworldcup.com is expecting another one billion hits during the over one-month-long tournament. Designed by Indya.com -- the online initiative of STAR India Pvt Ltd and Maruti Udyog -- the interactive website will have special columns, player interviews and commentary for cricket buffs.

In addition to this, cricketworldcup.com will have live audio and video feed of highlights to further satiate the average fan.

Launching the website, ICC Media and Communications Manager Brian Murgatroyd said he was expecting an enthusiastic response in India as 50 per cent of the one billion who hit the Champions Trophy site were Indians.

''There is plenty for everybody. Fans can get player interviews, profiles and much more. I would say, it is the perfect vehicle to enjoy the World Cup,'' Mr Murgatroyd told reporters.

''We have lots of interactive features as well. There is Voice of the World Cup section where fans can record there commentary on particular clips. It is a great site and I hope everyone enjoys logging on to it,'' he added.

With just 13 days to go for the ninth edition of the mega event, the ICC also unveiled the official World Cup for which the teams would fight it out for 47 days.

''This is the real thing weighing 11 kg and I can't tell you how much it has cost us but it's worth a lot of money,'' Mr Murgatroyd joked as he unveiled the coveted trophy with the official song for the event titled 'the game of unity and love' playing in the backdrop.

UNI