ICC chief 'impressed' with World Cup preparations

Malcolm Speed, chief executive officer of the International Cricket Council in London, has voiced his approval for the way the 2003 Cricket World Cup is being organised in South Africa.

Speed has spent the past two days in Johannesburg on his first visit to South Africa since his recent appointment to the key executive position in world cricket. During his stay, he attended a 2003 Cricket World Cup Policy Committee meeting where, among other things, he witnessed a presentation on safety and security plans for the tournament.

The ICC chief also held extensive talks with Ali Bacher, executive director of the tournament, and members of his senior management team.

"I am very impressed with the infracture that has already been put in place with the tournament still 18 months away," said Speed. "In my view, the World Cup management group is doing very solid work towards delivering an outstanding Cricket World Cup."

Speed was accompanied on his visit by Campbell Jamieson, commercial manager of ICC Development International Limited, the commercial rights owner and official organiser of the World Cup. With them was Mark Whitehead of World Sport Group Limited which has acquired the sponsorship and television rights along with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation Limited.

The eighth Cricket World Cup - featuring 14 teams and 56 matches - will be staged in South Africa during February-March 2003.