World Cup Tickets Go On Sale As Committee Meets

1 June 2010

The first batch of tickets for the 2011 World Cup have gone on sale online after a meeting of the Central Organising Committee in Mumbai confirmed that more than 100,000 tickets were initially being released.
The lowest priced tickets are available at 20 cents (USD) and the online ticketing system will allow users to choose their seats as well as the games they wish to attend.
“The prices confirm the promise we made that the tickets would be affordable and accessible," ICC vice-president Sharad Pawar said.

“I am sure that cricket lovers in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well as those from around the world will be excited at the prospect of being able to plan their trips to the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and be a part of the Cup that Counts.”
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat added: “While there is a lot of important operational detail ahead of us, I am pleased at the progress we have made to date.

“For example, in the next few months, safety and security aspects will be dealt with in detail by the security directorate headed by BCCI President Shashank Manohar.”
© Cricket World 2010

Mascot Stumpy Revealed 200 Days Before World Cup

2 August 2010

With 200 days to go before the first ball is bowled in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the event mascot’s name was unveiled in a simple but impressive ceremony at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo on Monday ahead of the third Test between Sri Lanka and India.

The mascot, an elephant, has been named ‘Stumpy’ after an online selection process that drew proposals from thousands of cricket fans around the world. The lucky winner will receive a cricket bat signed by the all-star quartet of India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, all of whom attended the launch to express their excitement about the flagship event. 

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “This is another milestone in the build-up to our flagship event and it’s great to see the game’s best players like Mahendra, Kumar, Sachin and Mahela looking forward to the ICC Cricket World Cup with such enthusiasm.

“As the excitement builds over the coming 200 days, we will see Stumpy throughout the cricket world, promoting the event and generating enthusiasm. I’m grateful to the thousands of cricket fans who showed their passion for our Great Sport and took part in the naming competition. I encourage all fans to start making plans to attend a spectacular event.”

With matches to be hosted in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is expecting the World Cup on home soil to be a career highlight.

He said: “It can’t get any bigger than the ICC Cricket World Cup in which the best of the best enter with just one objective – to take home the Cup that counts.

“It’s not only my dream to be a Cricket World Cup winner but it’s the wish of every member of team India to put his hand on the Cricket World Cup trophy.  We’ll work as hard as possible to turn our dreams into reality.

“This trophy has been eluding us for the past 27 years and I think we have a very good chance at home to break the drought.”

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said winning the Cricket World Cup was his childhood dream.

“The Cricket World Cup is the apex of all the cricketing competitions. It is the one that all teams and players want to win. I was very fortunate to watch Sri Lanka win the tournament in 1996 and it has been my ambition to win the Cricket World Cup ever since I started playing cricket,” he said.

“The World Cup means everything to us. It is the one point of the cricketing calendar everyone looks forward to and wants to win it. We just have to make sure that we understand how privileged we are to be in that position and carry the hopes and aspirations of so many people.”

India’s iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar can’t wait for the action to begin. He said: “The Cricket World Cup is the ultimate limited overs competition for a cricketer as it happens only once in four years. The entire cricketing fraternity eagerly waits for this event and when it starts, everyone gets deeply involved.

“It’s a completely different feeling to be part of a Cricket World Cup where the atmosphere and the buzz is very special and to be staged in the sub-continent for the first time in 15 years is a magnificent feeling.”

ICC CWC 2011 Tournament Director Prof Shetty was in Colombo for the launch. He said that, 200 days out from the opening match, plans in all three host countries were on track: “The preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 are on course and I’m happy with the progress we have been making.

“Obviously, the readiness of the stadia is one of the key factors. The construction work is going ahead at a brisk pace which makes me confident that all the stadia will be ready by the end of this year.”

World Cup Tickets Go On Sale As Committee Meets

The first batch of tickets for the 2011 World Cup have gone on sale online after a meeting of the Central Organising Committee in Mumbai confirmed that more than 100,000 tickets were initially being released. The lowest priced tickets are available at 20 cents (USD) and the online ticketing system will allow users to choose their seats as well as the games they wish to attend.
“The prices confirm the promise we made that the tickets would be affordable and accessible," ICC vice-president Sharad Pawar said.

“I am sure that cricket lovers in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka as well as those from around the world will be excited at the prospect of being able to plan their trips to the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and be a part of the Cup that Counts.”
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat added: “While there is a lot of important operational detail ahead of us, I am pleased at the progress we have made to date.

“For example, in the next few months, safety and security aspects will be dealt with in detail by the security directorate headed by BCCI President Shashank Manohar.”

© Cricket World 2010

2011 World Cup Countdown: One Year To Go

With exactly one year to go before the first ball in bowled in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Asia is gearing up to deliver another world-class tournament which will be participated by the best of the best in nation-versus-nation contest.

Today also happens to feature an ODI involving four-time world champion Australia against two-time former champion West Indies in Melbourne. Looking forward to the event, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has one wish that the event be as successful as the previous events that provides the diehard fans in the subcontinent to watch their stars at the peak of their careers in action in one of the most challenging events.

“These are exciting times for the ICC as now just 365 days remain until the start of our flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Given the passion the subcontinent has for our great sport and the tremendous commitment shown so far by the boards and people of the region, everyone is even more thrilled and convinced that it will be another successful World Cup like the previous ones held in the region, in 1987 and 1996.

“In the past 12 months, I believe we have made excellent progress with our preparations. Last year in Mumbai, we unveiled the event logo and announced the match schedule while at the beginning of this year in Dhaka we launched the Bangladesh element of the World Cup. In April in Colombo, we will launch the ticket sales.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship multi-team event of our great sport and every player wants to be on the winning team. Those who have already won it want to win it again while those who have not tasted success so far, are desperate to get their hands on the trophy at least once in their careers.

“The ICC Cricket World Cup is the game’s biggest and greatest showcase and it is also the event that generates the majority of the revenue used by our Members to grow our global game.

“The tournament is a chance for fans around the world especially in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to watch the best players on the planet at the peak of their powers. I believe it will be one of the great sporting occasions of our time.”

Tournament director Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, looking ahead to the event, said: “The preparations for the tournament are progressing nicely and we just can’t wait to start welcoming the world.

“The interest in the subcontinent is gaining momentum with the followers of the game anxiously waiting for the quadrennial event to start as it will provide them with an opportunity to watch live the world’s greatest cricketers in one tournament fighting hard for the biggest prize in the sport.

“A lot of energy, effort and investment is being pumped into improving the infrastructure in the three countries which is aimed at making the stadia better for players, spectators and the media. This will ensure that the subcontinent once again delivers an outstanding event like it did it in 1987 and 1996.

“All three co-hosts are fully geared to host the event and I am sure this World Cup will showcase top quality cricket and also will provide an opportunity to the tourists to enjoy the rich heritage of the host countries.”

© ICC