Caribbean ready to woo the world with the ICC World Twenty20 2010
With just 100 days to go the West Indies gets ready for a festival of cricket
There are just 100 days to go until the start of ICC World Twenty20 2010 and Tournament Director Robert Bryan says "momentum is building as the region gears up to host this blockbuster cricket event".
"Coming into 2010 we have seen increased interest in the tournament with more fans enquiring about and indeed buying tickets. They realise that we're just three months away from the biggest Twenty20 party and there's a huge amount of talk and excitement about it," said Mr Bryan.
"We have the best of the best in international cricket coming to the West Indies for two weeks of riveting action in men's and women's cricket and fans don't want to miss out," he said, speaking to media at a brief ceremony at Beausejour Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia to herald the 100-day countdown today.
Additionally, he noted tournament preparations had intensified and will continue to do so with the countdown well and truly on.
"There will be a final venue inspection later this month to ensure that all elements of preparation are progressing as they should be and to check out the venues and the renovations that are being done to make them ready for match day. We are pleased with how things have been going and we expect to deliver a superb, world-class spectacle of which the West Indies can be proud," he added.
After giving a short update on work at Beausejour, which will host group games as well as Super Eight and semi-final matches, he invited media, government and sports officials to tour the venue and see the ongoing upgrades to the facility.
"The ICC WT20 project team has been working closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Sports Saint Lucia Inc. to bring Beausejour up to the required standard. This work began last November and is scheduled to be finished by month-end (January 2010)," explained the ICC WT20 2010 Tournament Director.
Guests, including West Indies Cricket Board President Dr Julian Hunte and Saint Lucia's Minister of Sports Leonard Montoute, were also given an update on the pitch and field and general refurbishment of the stadium, including the dressing-room area.
Mr Bryan also reported that preparations in the three other host venues - Barbados, Guyana and St Kitts - were progressing smoothly and "we are confident that all deadlines will be met as we move towards hosting this significant event".
