WC Ticket window to remain open for a bonus fortnight

Cricket fans are being given a bonus extension to apply for tickets for individual matches for the ICC Cricket World Cup South Africa 2003.

The Ticket Window, a random draw ballot, opened on October 8 and was originally intended to close tomorrow, Friday, 8 November.

To maximize the opportunity for the public to apply for tickets, it has been decided to extend this window of opportunity for a further two weeks.

Fans now have until midday on Friday 22 November to apply for tickets in this way.

The CWC 2003 Final in Johannesburg next March 23 is totally sold out and does not feature in the Ticket Window.

Members of the public can make application for other individual matches on any of the three ticket sales channels - at the CWC stadiums themselves, on the official website www.cricketworldcup.com or via the callcentre hotline on +27-83-123-2003.

Although many of the matches are already oversubscribed, all applications during the six-week window will stand an equal chance of success.

There will be a random draw for each match. The names of all people who applied for a particular match will go into the draw. Names will be randomly selected by computer until all the seats available for the match have been assigned to winners. The random draw from November 25 will be closely monitored by the auditing firm Deloitte and Touche.

Customers' success or failure will be conveyed to them from December 2, at which time the successful applicants may make their purchases until the cutoff date on January 10. Thereafter, they will forfeit the chance to purchase the tickets allocated to them.

Current holders of Stadium Packages for Wanderers in Johannesburg, Supersport Park in Centurion, Kingsmead in Durban, Newlands in Cape Town and St George's Park in Port Elizabeth cannot apply through the Ticket Window for individual matches at those venues.

No money will change hands until customers have been notified of their success. Tickets will then be sold to them on the sales channel of their choice.

Apart from the website, Ticket Window applications may be made on the callcentre hotline between 07h00 SA Time (05h00 GMT) and 19h00 SA Time (17h00 GMT) seven days a week; or at CWC stadiums from 09h00-16h00 Monday to Friday.