ICC happy with Dhaka’s preparations

The Central Organising Committee for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 hailed Bangladesh people’s enthusiasm for the cricket and have expressed their satisfaction over the progress of the preparations for the mega event to be co-hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
“I’m very much satisfied, as Bangladesh has made a good progress in the last few months to stage the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat told reporters at a press conference at a city hotel Saturday.
As one of the three co-hosts of the World Cup, Dhaka will stage the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 13 months’ time and it will bring in a big opportunity to highlight the country among huge global audience.
“ICC Vice President and Chairman of the CWC 2011 Central Organising Committee Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday and the Prime Minister gave her consent to be present at the opening ceremony in Dhaka on Feb 17 next year, showing the support we have for the event at the highest level,” Haroon Lorgat said.
Bangladesh will also host eight matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, including the opening match and two quarterfinals.
With Bangladesh preparing to host the biggest sporting event of its history, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, the ICC Chief Executive has urged the people to get behind the tournament when the time comes.
“During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Bangladesh along with two joint-hosts India and Sri Lanka will be the centre of the sporting world, and it’ll be a huge boost for Bangladesh as a nation,” Lorget added.
He went on: “The passion the Bangladeshis have for cricket is second to none. So, I’ve every confidence that there’ll be a special atmosphere. In fact, there’s already a sense of excitement building with people talking about putting on a great show, benefiting such an important sporting occasion.”
Replying to a query, the ICC Chief executive told the journalists, “We’ve inspected all the World Cup venues here, including the Bangabandhu National Stadium. “It’s all right,” he said.
Replying to another question regarding accommodation of VIPs from allover the world, BCB President AHM Mustafa Kamal said, “We’ve all the necessary preparations and facilities to accommodate our guests during the opening ceremony and also in the CWC match.”
COC Convenor Mahbubul Anam said, “We expect a full house crowd in the opening ceremony of the World Cup, as we watched similar crowd during the ICC Under-19 World Cup opener although there was no match for the day.”
COC Tournament Director Prof Ratnakar Shetty said the rates of tickets will be affordable to people, as huge cricket fans will come to the venues.
ICC Vice President and Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Sharad Pawar was also present at the press conference.
Earlier, Sharad Pawar presided over a meeting of the COC of the World Cup here Saturday morning.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, BCB President AHM Mustafa Kamal MP, Tournament Director Prof Ratnakar Shetty and COC Convenor Mahbubul Anam also attended the meeting.