South African cricket team to play in previously disadvantaged areas

For the first time, the South African cricket team will play a match in one of the previously disadvantaged areas.

South Africa's 2003 World Cup team will play Western Province in one of Cape Town's black areas in the buildup to the tournament which runs from February 7 to March 19, 2003, throughout South Africa.

The South African team will be based in Cape Town for the initial league stage of the 14-team tournament and will have two warmup practice games in the Western Cape before their opening World Cup match at Newlands on February 7.

For several years now, it has been a policy in South African cricket for visiting international teams to play matches in previously disadvantaged areas as part of their tour itineraries -- but this is the first time that the SA national team will do so.

Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup (CWC), today (Wednesday) announced that the CWC policy committee have approved that each of the competing international teams play at least one of their two warmup practice games in a previously disadvantaged area in the provinces in which they are based.

The warmup games are traditionally an important component of the official World Cup programme, and teams rely on them to prepare thoroughly before the tournament begins.

Several of these practice games will be televised live on the SABC, who hold the South African television rights for the entire tournament.

It is also hoped that schools in the previously disadvantaged areas will allow their children to attend these matches.

Dr Bacher has invited the 11 affiliated provinces of the United Cricket Board of South Africa to submit recommendations on these practice venues to the 2003 CWC's policy committee by the end of July.

Dr Bacher said in Johannesburg: "We suggest that each affiliate hosts one World Cup warmup game in a disadvantaged area within their boundaries provided that the pitches and outfield are of good quality for important games of this nature and that adequate security be provided for these matches."

Dr Bacher emphasised that the competing nations could expect to enjoy first-class competition in the warmup games from the senior provincial teams. "These are very serious matches and they will be treated as such," he said. "We must put our best senior provincial teams into the field to provide the right kind of competition."

According to Dr Bacher, 13 international teams will be based in a city or town in South Africa for a period of between seven and 10 days before their opening World Cup game. Each team will play two practice games against provincial opposition. The 14th team, Zimbabwe, will be based at home, and will play their warmup games in Harare and Bulawayo.