Executive Director Ali Bacher speaks out after first round

Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, addressed the media today at a scheduled press conference between the conclusion of the preliminary round of CWC 2003 and the start on Friday of the Super Sixes.

Dr Bacher addressed the following issues:

I wish to congratulate the six teams who have qualified, and wish them 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. They have been like a breath of fresh air.

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 nature. What we need is the people of South Africa to continue to buy into the importance of this tournament, and to continue supporting it the way they have done. The South African team might be out of the World Cup, but South Africa is still in it.

For the 34 preliminary round games in South Africa some 400 000 people have attended, representing some 70% of capacity. It is estimated that a further 200 000-250 000 will attend the 12 remaining games of the tournament giving a grand total (including the Opening Ceremony) of 675 000 out of the 825 000 total capacity.

I am very heartened by these figures. We have now banked R80 million from ticket sales and our initial budget was R25 million.

Attendances have shown how the South African public have embraced the tournament as a great cricketing occasion. For example, attendance for the Kenya-Bangladesh match at the Wanderers on 1 March was 17 897, Bangladesh-Canada at Kingsmead on 11 February was 10 482, and Canada-Kenya at Newlands on 15 February was 12 590. In addition, for the six matches in Zimbabwe and Kenya, total attendance was 29 549.

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 Supersport Park. They were quickly stifled and 6 people were ejected from the ground. I am pleased to say that no one has been injured at any game, 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 unstinting commitment and support for CWC 2003.

The clean consistency of the blue, gold, black and white 'look' of the stadiums has been remarked upon very favourably by many knowledgeable people. I would like to think that we have now launched an ICC Cricket World Cup brand that will be used again and again, not necessarily in the same colours but with the same consistency. I would be bold enough to suggest that, having attended two Olympic Games, the CWC branding is as good, if not better, than the Olympics.

These 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. In addition, the upgrades at all the stadiums are truly fantastic and I have been very impressed with the new scoreboards and replay screens.

This is one of the unsung success stories of the tournament, a fully computerized system that provides absolute security and crowd control. It is interesting to note that, through the security built into the turnstiles and tickets, 12 870 people have tried unsuccessfully to gain access to grounds without valid tickets. Without this ticketing system, they would have gained entry undetected.

This has been another success story of the tournament. Wherever I go, volunteers are friendly and helpful. I get so many good reports about them and the country is truly proud of them. This is a legacy that we will leave South African sport.

One of our main objectives at the outset was to rally the country behind this event. I believe that this has been achieved and that these campaigns have resulted in South Africans embracing the event.

We have always said that, even if South Africa doesn't win the World Cup, we want this to be a very special event for South Africa, Africa and the International Cricket Council. It's time ... now for the country to continue to show its support for the important matches that lie ahead.

The public are reminded that, in keeping with an assurance made earlier this year, a limited number of tickets will become available in the ticketing system for the nine upcoming Super Six matches. People wishing to attend these matches should keep a check on the CWC ticket sales channels by either visiting their local CWC stadium ticket office, calling the ticket hotline on 083 123 2003 or logging onto the website www.cricketworldcup . Tickets now on sale will be limited to four per person.