The Hindu : South Africans will not let down World Cup: Ali Bacher

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

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Sport - World Cup

South Africans will not let down World Cup: Ali Bacher

By Our Special Correspondent

Johannesburg March 5. The Chief Executive Officer of the ICC World Cup, Dr. Ali Bacher, said on Tuesday that South Africa would not let down cricket and the World Cup tournament even though the host nation had been eliminated from the event.

"We are all very disappointed, and we share the disappointment of the nation and the players. But what we have been able to do is to show the world that we have the capacity to manage a global sporting event of this magnitude. What we need is the people of South Africa to continue supporting it the way they have done. The South African team is out of the World Cup, but South Africa is still in it," he said at the Conference Hall of the CWC office at Summer Place.

Dr. Bacher congratulated the six teams that had entered the Super Six. Explaining the reason for allowing the teams to take points into the Super Six he said: "It all started in 1996 when South Africa won five matches and lost one and was eliminated. We wanted to make the league phase more meaningful and hence it was our idea that has been accepted by the ICC.'' "I wish the six teams every success in the matches ahead. I would also like to pay tribute to the Associate Member Countries' teams that competed with such commitment and a sense of fun.''

He said the security system and the volunteer system had worked wonderfully. "I would like to thank the South African and international supporters for their exemplary behaviour and good spirit. The worst crowd incidents reported were three minor scuffles, each lasting about 30 seconds, at the India-Pakistan game at Super Sport Park. They were quickly stifled and six people were ejected from the ground. I am pleased to say that no one has been injured at any match, there have been no pitch invasions and no attacks on players. It is clear to me that the policies of our Security Directorate have worked. I wish also to make special mention of the SA Police Service for its unstinted commitment and support for CWC 2003."

He said it was the first time the CWC had been branded. "The clean consistency of the blue, gold, black and white `look' of the stadia has been remarked upon very favourably by many knowledgeable people. The pitches and playing areas have truly done credit to an event of this magnitude. Our pitch consultants, groundsmen and curators must be congratulated on producing playing surfaces of the highest standard.''

Venkatraghavan for Super 6

India's S. Venkatraghavan, one among the International Cricket Council's Elite Panel umpires, has been retained for the Super Six stage of the World Cup. But he has been given an `on field' posting only for the match between Zimbabwe and Kenya to be played at the Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein on March 12. He will also be the fourth umpire for the match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Bloemfontein on March 8 and the TV umpire for the match between Zimnabwe and Sri Lanka at East London on March 15. Venkatraghavan will officiate the Zimbabwe-Kenya match with Pakistan's Aleem Dar.

According to Dave Richardson, the ICC's Director for Cricket Operations, the umpires posted for the preliminary matches were assessed at three levels: Captains, Match Referees and the ICC's Referees Manager based in London. "Some of umpires were out of form in the competition and hence have not been retained for the Super 6. But it doesn't mean that they are bad. We have given weightage to the recommendations of the Referees Manager who has viewed all the matches on tapes.''

Replying to a question as to what was the basis of appointment for the Super 6 stage, Richardson said it was on the basis of their performances in the league stage, but it was up to the public to form their own judgment. He did not specify why Venkatraghavan was posted for matches featuring Zimbabwe. "We have seen winning captains giving good marks to the umpires and vice-versa. We want them to be more professional. The Match Referees also make their observations, but we are finally led by the recommendations of the Referees Manager,'' said Richardson.

The umpires' panel has been reduced to 12 from the original group of 22, following a detailed assessment of each official's performance in the Group stage of the tournament.

The 12 umpires for the Super Six stage are: Billy Bowden (New Zealand), Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Aleem Dar (Pakistan), Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Daryl Harper (Australia), Darrell Hair (Australia), Brian Jerling (South Africa), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), David Shepherd (England), Simon Taufel (Australia), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India) and Peter Willey (England).

The ICC has retained all five full time members of the ICC Match Referees panel. They are: Clive Lloyd, Ranjan Madugalle, Mike Procter, Wasim Raja, Gundappa Viswanath.

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