ANTIGUA: CRICKET - International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Malcolm Speed defends the governing body against widespread criticism over poor turnout, security measures and high ticket prices at the World Cup

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Malcolm Speed defended the governing body on Sunday (April 8) against widespread criticism over poor turnout, security measures and high ticket prices at the World Cup. "I think there are two or three issues there. First of all the ticket prices were set by the local organizing committees and Cricket World Cup here. It's up to them to know their own market and how much they believe they can charge. There has been very good atmosphere at many of the games. Some of the games haven't been well as well attended where we've had associate member countries playing against teams other than the West Indies. But the West Indies matches I've been to, and today's match between England and Australia, has a very good atmosphere there so I'm not too concerned about that," said Speed. The event has been criticised by local fans and media for running for 47 days, featuring as many as 51 games and six associate teams. Many have also complained about the absence of a Caribbean flavour due to the absence of crowds and conditions -- since lifted -- imposed for bringing in musical instruments into the ground. "I think the ticket prices are very, very expensive for the local people here in Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, wherever. In the whole Caribbean Islands it's too expensive. And besides that, the flavour of the cricket has disappeared. The cricket flavour has disappeared. Because there is no way that we can take our drinks or party items. Everything, everything is missing. And that's the reason why especially the Caribbean team, the West Indies team, has not seen a very good performance from all of these guys," a West Indies cricket fan said. "Yeah I think more locals were coming, wanted to come to cricket really, and they couldn't. I think they were more catering for tourists but it's the locals who are the ones who really bring the cricket spirit around. And I guess the tourists and all came to see the Caribbean people at cricket. They see it on TV they want to taste and experience what Caribbean cricket is like. And I think if more locals were here, It would be a better thing," said West Indies cricket fan Jenna. However, organisers have been forced to give away free tickets to schoolchildren to ramp up attendance as thousands of Indian and Pakistani fans cancelled their trips after both teams were knocked out in the first round. Local fans have also kept away, complaining they cannot afford tickets priced from U.S.$25 onwards. "I wanted to experience the true Caribbean flavour of cricket. Which is party, be free, and just enjoy the great game that it is. But we haven't been experiencing any of that. Too many restrictions, cost of tickets, the stands are half full because the locals can't afford hundred dollar, seventy five dollar U.S. for a ticket," said West Indies cricket fan Roy Brandt. "It's just not right. Somebody obviously didn't do their homework to take into consideration the people that live here and the wages that they make. They are the ones that we needed to fill those seats with, really. But I think it was just a big cash grab on the ICC part and I think it backfired on them," he added. Speed said the tournament organisers and local officials were responsible for ticket pricing. Speed said ICC had shown flexibility by easing conditions to encourage fans to bring in musical instruments with the permission of local organisers.

ITN Source | April 10, 2007

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