Mumbai, June 01: International Cricket Council CEO Haroon Lorgat today assured that security will the top priority during the World Cup, to be held from February 19 to April 2, 2011 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Speaking at a media conference to announce the launch of online sales of tickets for the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent, he said ”We will put up a master security plan to ensure safety and security for all.” The World Cup Central Organising Committee’s chairman and ICC’s president-elect Sharad Pawar purchased the first of the 100000 tickets available for all matches online from Tuesday. ”Five per cent of tickets for all the matches can be brought on line,” Lorgat informed.
Pawar, who was also present at the conference, brushed aside concerns that the World Cup venues were behind schedule in preparation for the mega event and emphasised that the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which is undergoing renovation, will host the final on April 2, 2011. ”I’m extremely happy with the progress of venues in all the three countries whether it be grounds, hotels or security. They are showing very good progress and I’m confident that the World Cup will be a great success,” Pawar said. ”The April 2 final match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai,” he emphasized. Prof Shetty said inspections of all 13 World Cup venues, including the eight in India, by the ICC will commence from June 8. He said that efforts were on to enable genuine and valid ticket holders from other countries to re-enter India though the visa rules have changed and bar a re-entry within two months for foreign visitors to this country. ”The COC is in talks with the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry that valid ticket holders are allowed to re-enter the country. We hope the authorities will take a call on that,” Shetty said. Bangladesh Cricket Board’s president Mustafa Kamal said there would be no tickets for the February 17, 2011 World Cup opening ceremony in Dhaka. ”You are welcome”, he said.
—-Agencies