By Rawle Toney in St Lucia
The National Stadium at Providence has been chosen to stage the opening ceremony of next year’s International Cricket Council’s Twenty20 World Cup competition.
This disclosure was made Saturday night at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia at the official launch of next year’s tournament.
At the launch, the ICC unveiled the 2010 Twenty20 ticket prices and match schedule for the mega event which will be held in the Caribbean for the first time since its inception in 2007.
The Beausejour Indoor Facility in Gros-Islet, was transformed into a mini carnival atmosphere hinted that unlike the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup would have a true West Indian flavour.
Guyana, St Lucia, Barbados will host the men’s tournament while the women’s competition will be staged in St Kitts.
The opening ceremony will take place on April 30 and will be followed by matches in Group D where the host side has been grouped with England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and an ICC associate qualifier.
Ticket prices are attractive.
First round matches in Guyana will go for as low as US$3 for the mound or ground while the stands will cost US$5. Double headers will see the ground tickets being sold for US$5 and the stands US$10 dollars.
Children under 16 years of age will be admitted free of charge.
According to the WICB Twenty20 Tournament director, Ernest Hillaire the Twenty20 world Cup gears to bring one of the cricket’s most exciting formats to the people of the Caribbean and also promises that it would be nothing like CWC in 2007 where fans were not happy.
The low ticket prices Hillaire says were not only to make up for the exuberant prices in 2007 but was to ensure that the event has maximum attendance at all the matches.
“I think everyone would admit that the 2007 tournament was not as successful as we wanted it to be, so I think we would be foolish to not reflect on what had happened and make the adjustments this time,” said the ICC’s Media and Communications Manager, Brian Murgatroyd.
WICB president Dr. Julian Hunte says that the Caribbean stands more than ready to host the event next year, and thanked the ICC for choosing the respective territories and added that the event would be like none other.
“The ICC World Cup Twenty20 has proven to be a successful and riveting event and next April, it would be the Caribbean’s turn to show how we do in 20/20. We intend to do it in all the style and verve for which our region is known. There is no question that cricket spectatorship in the WI is on rival in the world, a cricket match is more than a game; it is a celebration of life, a statement of our appreciation of cricketing skills and the reflection of our humor and joyous behavior,” said Dr. Hunte.
Photo Caption: This is how we do it in the Caribbean! Members from a local dance group in St Lucia showcasing what to expect to when the Twenty20 World Cup comes to the Caribbean in 2010 (Rawle Toney Photo)
Photo name: Dance
