Sports

'It Was Natural To Hold The Cup In Zimbabwe, Kenya'

Outlook spoke with Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the Cricket World Cup, 2003, on February 13, the day the England-Zimbabwe match had been scheduled to be held. Excerpts:

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'It Was Natural To Hold The Cup In Zimbabwe, Kenya'
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At the end of a dramatic week, are you happy or are you a bit worried?

Do you regret the fact that the World Cup is also being held in Zimbabwe and Kenya?
Not at all, honestly. The idea was to spread the message of cricket in Africa and it was but natural to hold the World Cup in Zimbabwe and Kenya too.

Did you anticipate the security-related problems that have surfaced?
The world has changed post-September 11. I think all of us admit there is no such place where there is complete safety. We look carefully at the teams’ security concerns. For instance, New Zealand has told us of its concerns in playing in Kenya. We’re looking at what solutions can be achieved.

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But you do agree that Zimbabwe, specifically, has become a problem?
The feeling now is that the situation there has improved. The icc had sent its security officials to make an assessment. We are taking many factors into account and what’s emerging is a good sign. That things are getting better in Zimbabwe.

Isn’t it fairly obvious that England’s reluctance to play in Zimbabwe is not just on security grounds?
England appealed to us to change the venue to South Africa. Now they say that they have new information pointing to security-related issues. England has presented this information to us. Right now, the technical committee is seeeing if they have a valid case here. Zimbabwe has agreed that if a request for change of venue is not on political lines but due to security reasons, it’s willing to play its pool matches in South Africa.

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If England’s match is rescheduled, wouldn’t Australia look at it as a precedent and try not to play in Zimbabwe?
The Australian Cricket Board has not put in any appeal for a change of venue at this point.

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