Hilaire delighted by reaction to ticket price announcement for ICC World Twenty20 2010

Tournament Director says "feedback has been really positive"

Great value offers on tickets including free entry for U/16s to selected matches; free entry to all women's group matches; highest-priced ticket for all men's first round and Super Eights matches US$15; semi-final tickets start from US$10; top ticket price for finals day is only US$40

"We want full venues as part of our drive to create a true Caribbean atmosphere during the event"

ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 Tournament Director Ernest Hilaire said on Wednesday he was "delighted and hugely encouraged" by the feedback he had received following the release of details of ticket prices for the event.

Those prices include free entry for Under-16s to selected matches, free entry to all women's group matches, a mark of just US$15 as the highest-priced ticket for all men's first round and Super Eights matches, semi-final tickets from just US$10 and a top ticket price for finals day of only US$40.

They were set to ensure the venues will be as full as possible for all 42 matches taking place in Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia between 30 April and 16 May next year, and Dr Hilaire said he had already received a positive response following last weekend's announcement.

"I've been delighted and hugely encouraged by the reaction we've had to the announcement of ticket prices for the ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010," he said.

"Our aim was and is to ensure the prices are in the reach of all fans and the feedback following Saturday's launch, when we also announced the match schedule, has been really positive in that regard."

The outstanding value for money deals include:

• Under-16s will get free entry to all matches in Guyana and all first round matches in St Lucia

• The highest-priced ticket for all men's first round and Super Eights matches is just US$15

• All women's group games will be free entry

• Tickets for either of the two semi-final men's and women's double-headers in St Lucia on 13 and 14 May start from just US$10 for adults and US$6 for Under-16s

• The top ticket price for finals day in Barbados on 16 May is only US$40

Dr Hilaire added: "We want full venues as part of our drive to create a true Caribbean atmosphere during the event and with the extremely competitive ticket prices on offer we believe we can achieve that.

"Tickets will go on sale to Caricom residents for an exclusive period of two weeks on 1 November ahead of release to the rest of the world and we will announce details in due course of how those tickets can be purchased.

"We look forward to the West Indian public and the world supporting what should be a fantastic event with the world's best players in nation-versus-nation action at four fantastic venues."

The fixtures for the event were also announced in St Lucia last Saturday and hosts the West Indies will start things off in Guyana on 30 April against one of two qualifiers for the men's tournament, part of a double-header that will also feature Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

If the West Indies, also in a group with England, reaches the Super Eights, it will then go on to play in St Lucia and Barbados, something that would see it play in all three locations for the men's tournament.

Pakistan will begin the defence of its title against Bangladesh in St Lucia on 1 May and India, the 2007 champions, will start its campaign to regain the crown with an encounter with the other qualifier at the same venue on the same day, part of another double-header.

England's women, who beat New Zealand to lift the inaugural ICC Women's World Twenty20 title, start their push for back-to-back trophies against old rivals Australia in St Kitts on 5 May, the first day of matches in the women's tournament.

The finals of both the men's and women's tournaments will take place at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday 16 May.

The two Associate sides that will take part in the men's tournament will be determined through a qualifying tournament to be held in the United Arab Emirates later this year.

Tickets are set to go on sale in the Caricom market on 1 November 2009, with sales to the rest of the world commencing two weeks later, on 15 November. Tickets will be available via website, call centre, outlets and box office with further details to be announced in due course.