Empty stands, expensive tickets, dull matches, a "sterile" atmosphere
and the unexplained death of a coach in his hotel room.
Many would argue the 47-day World Cup in the Caribbean was a disaster,
but former ICC president Ehsan Mani labelled the tournament a tremendous
success.
The mysterious demise in his Jamaican hotel room of Pakistan coach Woolmer
cast a major shadow over the tournament's security measures.
But Mani told Pitch, the official newsletter of the World Cup Organising
Committee: "I have had the privilege of being involved in the last
four World Cups. The organisation of CWC 2007 was the best I have seen."
The newsletter described the March 11 Jamaican opening ceremony as "dazzling"
and "wonderful" before praising the much-criticised atmosphere
in the stands as a "cricket fiesta".
But as West Indies cricket great Viv Richards said during the tournament,
Caribbean fans are "carnival people".
"We like to be heard and we like to have fun. Nobody addressed that
fully," he said.
"Some of those islands' economies are not all that great and when
you ask people to pay $US80 ($A97) for one day to watch cricket, it's
too much. Someone made a huge, huge mistake."
Five weeks ago World Cup organisers had egg all over their faces as the
drawn-out, tedious tournament ended in farcical circumstances with Australia's
win in Barbados.
Australia's victory over Sri Lanka in near-darkness on April 28, after
being called back onto the ground following confusion among match officials
over whether the game had been completed, was just one of many low points
in the tournament, which ICC chief Malcolm Speed eventually admitted was
too long.
The dominance of Ricky Ponting's side and the poor performances of West
Indies, India and Pakistan didn't help.
A ridiculous decision preventing fans from bringing their musical conch
shells into matches without written permission also helped kill the atmosphere
of the event. The conch-shell rule was relaxed mid-tournament.
But Pitch editor Michelle Gibson countered: "The West Indies has
shown the world what we are capable of. We proved that if we apply the
right strategy and team, anything is possible."
Ponting's men will be hoping World Cup profits are put to good use by
the West Indies board for Australia's tour there next year, and for the
2010 Champions Trophy hosted by the Caribbean.
Ponting spoke during the World Cup about how training facilities were
not good enough at some venues.
Tournament chief Dehring, however, praised the tournament's legacy which
included "22 great practice facilities and a host of internationally
trained and experienced event personnel".
Ponting will also be hoping his face is now a familiar one to event staff.
The Australian skipper was refused entry to his own press conference to
promote a Group A match in St Kitts in March, before a team official stepped
in to gently point out Ponting's identity.
,June
4, 2007
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