Centralised visas for 2007 cricket World Cup

Indian fans who want to watch the 2007 cricket World Cup matches in the West Indies will have no problem criss-crossing the islands as they will be issued centralised visas, a top tournament organiser said Thursday.

Chris Dehring, CEO of the 2007 World Cup, said three high commissions in New Delhi would issue centralised visas by the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom).

"The Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and the British High Commissions in India will issue the visas for Indian fans travelling to the West Indies for the World Cup," Dehring said at the India launch of the March-April tournament.

As nine sovereign island countries are hosting the World Cup matches, fans from the around the world have been apprehensive at encountering trouble while travelling from one venue to the other.

But Dehring virtually laid to rest all such fears with his announcement.

He said a few formalities are left to complete before Caricom makes a formal announcement to this effect.

Accommodation is another potential problem that fans are anticipating during the March 11-April 28 World Cup, with fears that there would not be sufficient hotels to accommodate the huge expected rush.

Another fear is that hotels would hike the tariff during the first ever World Cup to be played in the Caribbean.

But Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, who was also present on the occasion along with other dignitaries, disclosed that people in his country have decided to open their doors to the visitors.

"Grenada is a small country, but we have already received about 1,000 applications from people (families) who are willing to offer two- or three-room accommodation for the visitors," he said.

Sixteen teams will contest the ninth edition of the World Cup at 12 either new or refurbished venues across the nine Caribbean countries.

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed thanked the four global partners of the governing body and other sponsors for supporting the tournament.

Incidentally, all four ICC global partners are Indian companies - Hero Honda, Hutch, Pepsi and LG Electronics. And one of the additional four 'official sponsors' of the World Cup, Indian Oil, is also an Indian entity.

Together, the four ICC global partners have invested over $150 million into the game.

Dehring also allayed apprehensions that some of the stadiums might not be ready when the World Cup starts.

"All 12 new stadiums are roaring ahead and are being built," said Dehring, who began his speech by calling India "incredible".

Talking about the 2011 World Cup, which will be hosted in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Mitchell wished the 10th edition be better organised then the 2007 tournament and called upon Indians to visit the West Indies for the showpiece event.

Australia are the defending champions, while the 1983 winners India are placed in Pool 2 along with 1996 champions Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bermuda. (IANS)

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