Wills International Cup Countdown (8 October 1998)

The Wills International Cup will carry a total prize money of 400,000 US dollars

08-Oct-1998

8 October 1998

Wills International Cup Countdown

By Zahid Newaz in Dhaka

The latest news in the buildup to the Wills International Cup, with 16 days remaining till the start:

The Wills International Cup will carry a total prize money of 400,000 US dollars. The International Cricket Council will earn 16.5 million US dollars from sponsors of the tourney. Apart from the trophy, the winning team will get 100,000 dollars while the runners-up 60,000. Each of the two losing semi-finalists will be given 30,000 dollars as prize money while winners of the quarter finals receive 20,000 each. The winner of only prequarter final will also be given 20,000 dollars. Each of all the participating teams will get 15,000 dollars for their appearence. A total of 5,000 dollars has been kept for man of the match awards.

International Finance and Investment Corporation (IFIC) has been authorised of selling the tickets of the tournament on October 24-November 2. IFIC Bank which successfully sold the tickets of 1988 Asian Cup will give Tk 30 lakh (approx 6400 dollars) to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for winning the bid. Only the branches of the bank in capital Dhaka will sell the tickets. Sales are likely to begin on October 20 or 22. "The delay to begin selling is a bid to avert any piracy of tickets," said a BCB official.

A three-dimensional ground advertising mat will be presented at Bangabandhu National Stadium, the venue of the tournament. The new technology is being used for the first time in sub-continent. The 3-D group mat will display the name of the sponsor "Wills".

Pepsi, the co-sponsor of the Wills Cup, has innovated a new way to seek ball-boys for the tournament. It has sent a questionnaire to different schools in the capital. Interested boys have been asked to send reply. Best 60 scorers in the questionnaire will be appointed as ball-boy for the biggest cricketing show of the country. A total of 15 boys will be engaged in a match, but none will be used for more than two matches.

Pakistani cricketer Asif Iqbal, Event Manager of the knock-out tournament, arrives in Dhaka Thursday to see the latest preparations. He will be staying in Dhaka until the tournament is over. West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor is due in Dhaka on October 20.

Source :: CricInfo365