Speed hits back at World Cup critics

Bridgetown,Barbados, Apr 22 (UNI) A furious ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed has hit back at the critics of the World Cup saying, ''the criticism was unwarranted and totally out of context''.

''No-one ever pretended that this World Cup would be a straight forward event to stage. There have been some negatives, yes, but there have also been plenty of positives and they surely outweigh the negatives to a significant degree,'' Speed said.

Terming late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's death as ''tragic'' part of the tournament, he said, ''The death of Woolmer cast a long shadow over the event. He was a fantastic servant to the game at all levels and my hope is that we produce a climax which would do justice to Bob's contribution to our great sport.'' ''The prospects of the semi-finals are mouth-watering but less so is the criticism of the tournament, some of which has been over the top, to put it mildly,'' Speed asserted.

''To begin with, the event is taking place in the Caribbean, a place to which the game of cricket owes a huge debt for helping to popularise the sport through much of the past half-century.'' ''Staging it (World Cup) in the region, over nine separate countries, has been a huge logistical challenge. However, it is a challenge to which many people, paid and unpaid have risen and can all be proud of what has been achieved,'' the ICC chief said.

He also defended the tournament format saying, ''The format was being criticised now but it was approved by every participating nation. Though it has cost the tournament in terms of supporters (India and Pakistan going out in the first round) but it has also shown that cricket does exist outside the top eight sides.'' Expressing his hopes of a great finale to end this edition of the mega event, Speed said, ''The four sides left - Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa - will play make-or-break matches, having got to this stage following a rigorous examination of their credentials.'' ''No one could deny that each of these teams deserves its place in the semi-finals and each is a story in itself Australia, unbeaten and seeking an unprecedented third straight title; Sri Lanka, aiming to repeat its 1996 success; New Zealand, three-time semi-finalists but yet to lift the top prize; and South Africa, so close yet again after successive heartaches.'' he concluded.

UNI