The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is approaching the knockout stage. There have been issues related to infrastructure, ticketing, security and the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS).
Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, who has been in the administration of the game for 24 years (starting as a managing committee member of the Mumbai Cricket Association in 1987), was appointed as the Tournament Director by the Central Organising Committee of the ICC-CWC 2011.
In this interview to The Hindu he takes us through the role of ICC and other matters related to the event being held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Excerpts:
India has hosted two World Cups before. What were the challenges for this WC?
The last two World Cups hosted by India along with Pakistan and Sri Lanka are different from this one mainly because of the fact that since 2001 the CWCs are controlled by the ICC. The host board and its venues have to follow a strict template laid down for hosting the event. The 2011 CWC has helped all the eight venues to redevelop their infrastructure. One important feature is the emphasis on improving spectator facilities as also facilities for the media and broadcasters.
As compared to the earlier two World Cups, security has been a major issue and the Home Ministry has been extremely proactive and has been advising on the security arrangements to be made at all the venues through the City Police Commissioner concerned.
The ICC must have set stiff conditions. What areas was it very particular about?
The ICC has a set of conditions which every venue has to follow for infrastructure, preparing wickets, playing conditions and many other arrangements. A report is generated at the end of every match.
Among the eight venues in India, questions were raised about the readiness of the Wankhede and Eden Gardens?
It's true that the ICC inspection team had raised doubts about the Wankhede and the Eden Gardens, but they gave enough time to these venues to complete the infrastructure. Unfortunately, Eden Gardens did not go through for the first game.
Is there satisfaction of having conducted the New Zealand-Canada match at the Wankhede without any untoward incident?
We are indeed happy with the wicket and outfield, particularly because of the speculation in a section of the media (about the readiness) of the Wankhede. Both teams expressed satisfaction with the practice wickets as well as the match wicket and the spectators also enjoyed the game. Sudhir Naik has always provided good sporting wickets. The decision to appoint him as a curator was extremely important.
Making tickets available over the counter has been an issue for a long time?
It is true that the Mumbai Cricket Association is unable to make more than 4,000 tickets available for sale across the counter. Sixty per cent of the tickets are distributed to our clubs, gymkhanas and the Garware Club House, which is contributing to the game's development and one cannot ignore that.
Those who have visited the other centres say things have remarkably changed at Chennai (TNCA), Nagpur (VCA) and Bangalore (KSCA)
Nagpur is undoubtedly one of the best in India and it is also heartening to see that the new team at the KSCA (with Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath) has taken efforts to improve the facilities in a short time.
Among the eight venues, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium has also been refurbished. When completed fully, it would undoubtedly be a venue TNCA can be proud of. The media centre, without any doubt, is the best in the world.
Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, who has been in the administration of the game for 24 years (starting as a managing committee member of the Mumbai Cricket Association in 1987), was appointed as the Tournament Director by the Central Organising Committee of the ICC-CWC 2011.
In this interview to The Hindu he takes us through the role of ICC and other matters related to the event being held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Excerpts:
India has hosted two World Cups before. What were the challenges for this WC?
The last two World Cups hosted by India along with Pakistan and Sri Lanka are different from this one mainly because of the fact that since 2001 the CWCs are controlled by the ICC. The host board and its venues have to follow a strict template laid down for hosting the event. The 2011 CWC has helped all the eight venues to redevelop their infrastructure. One important feature is the emphasis on improving spectator facilities as also facilities for the media and broadcasters.
As compared to the earlier two World Cups, security has been a major issue and the Home Ministry has been extremely proactive and has been advising on the security arrangements to be made at all the venues through the City Police Commissioner concerned.
The ICC must have set stiff conditions. What areas was it very particular about?
The ICC has a set of conditions which every venue has to follow for infrastructure, preparing wickets, playing conditions and many other arrangements. A report is generated at the end of every match.
Among the eight venues in India, questions were raised about the readiness of the Wankhede and Eden Gardens?
It's true that the ICC inspection team had raised doubts about the Wankhede and the Eden Gardens, but they gave enough time to these venues to complete the infrastructure. Unfortunately, Eden Gardens did not go through for the first game.
Is there satisfaction of having conducted the New Zealand-Canada match at the Wankhede without any untoward incident?
We are indeed happy with the wicket and outfield, particularly because of the speculation in a section of the media (about the readiness) of the Wankhede. Both teams expressed satisfaction with the practice wickets as well as the match wicket and the spectators also enjoyed the game. Sudhir Naik has always provided good sporting wickets. The decision to appoint him as a curator was extremely important.
Making tickets available over the counter has been an issue for a long time?
It is true that the Mumbai Cricket Association is unable to make more than 4,000 tickets available for sale across the counter. Sixty per cent of the tickets are distributed to our clubs, gymkhanas and the Garware Club House, which is contributing to the game's development and one cannot ignore that.
Those who have visited the other centres say things have remarkably changed at Chennai (TNCA), Nagpur (VCA) and Bangalore (KSCA)
Nagpur is undoubtedly one of the best in India and it is also heartening to see that the new team at the KSCA (with Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath) has taken efforts to improve the facilities in a short time.
Among the eight venues, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium has also been refurbished. When completed fully, it would undoubtedly be a venue TNCA can be proud of. The media centre, without any doubt, is the best in the world.
