Pawar promises ''new-look and spectacular'' 2011 World Cup

Lahore, June 18 (UNI) President of 2011 World Cup Central Organising Committee (COC) Sharad Pawar today promised a ''new-look and spectacular'' showpiece event when it comes to the sub-continent in four years' time.

Mr Pawar was chosen President of the COC with PCB chief Nasim Ashraf as the Convenor/Secretary at the first meeting of IPSB Cricket World Cup Committee in Bhurban today.

Sujeeva Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) and Mahbubul Anam of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were made the treasurer and assistant secretary respecttively.

The meeting took the decision to have a re-look at the World Cup format when it come to the sub-continent and discuss the matter with the ICC.

''We promise a spectator-and media-friendly World Cup in four years time. We assure that prices of the tickets will be affordable to the local paying capacity,'' said Pawar.

''We will make unrelenting efforts to make the event a spectacular one so that more and more people come and watch the best cricket,'' he added.

The 2007 World Cup in the West Indies received widespread criticism for being too long, besides seeing empty stands mainly due to high price of tickets.

''Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka all have previous experience of hosting the World Cup and we will use it to make the next World Cup one of the best in its history,'' PCB chairman Ashraf said.

The Bhurban meeting was attended by Pawar, IS Bindra and Ratnakar Shetty Bindra from BCCI, Ashraf, COO Shafqat Naghmi and Director Special Projects Salim Altaf from PCB, CEO Duleep Mendis and Finance Manager Upali Seneviratne from BCB and BCB CEO Mahmudur Rahman.

Two other members from each of the four co-host Boards will complete the committee.

The meeting also chose Lahore as the headquarters of the World Cup 2011 besides deciding not to open joint account for the mega event.

In another important decision, the meeting decided that the COC will push for a common visa to facilitate easier travel for spectators across the four countries, following a pattern established by Caribbean nations in the recent World Cup.

''We are exploring at the possibility of a common visa and we will talk with our respective governments,'' Mr Pawar said.

''It is important to have a common visa for players, officials and media in particular to make it a smooth event,'' he said.

A common Caricom visa was issued by the Caribbean community for the 2007 World Cup.

PCB chairman Ashraf said the COC would ask the ICC for grants to develop cricket grounds in all four countries ''like they gave to the Caribbean countries.'' The inaugural ceremony of the mega event will be held in Dhaka, while Lahore and Colombo will host semi-finals and the final will be held in Mumbai.

India is due to stage 22 matches including the final, Pakistan 14, Sri Lanka nine and Bangladesh six.

Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad would host the World Cup matches in Pakistan, Me Ashraf said.

The meeting also decided that Local Organising Committee (LOC) for each country will be set up by November to commence work on infrastructure and stadia development.

The Terms of Reference (TORs) and the role of COC will be discussed with the ICC in London next week at the time of the ICC Board Meeting.

The next organising committee meeting will be held in India in November-December this year.

UNI