By Fakir Hassen, IANS
Johannesburg : The overwhelming support of local fans at warm-up games here augured well for the inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup that kicks off Tuesday with a game between the hosts and West Indies at the Wanderers Stadium, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Ray Mali said here Monday.
“After months of planning, I am looking forward to things finally kicking off tomorrow (Tuesday). This is a new format of the game but one which has been embraced wholeheartedly in the domestic scene, especially here in South Africa,” Mali said.
“It is fast and furious with plenty of action, and judging by the overwhelming crowd response we have had for the warm-up games over the last few days, the atmosphere at all three grounds is bound to be fantastic.
“The fans here love this form of the game for its entertainment value but also for the quality of cricket that is on display and the ICC World Twenty20 will give them a chance to witness the top cricketers in the world going all out in what is sure to be a hotly contested tournament,” he added.
Mali stressed the importance that the ICC places on the Spirit of Cricket.
“We are confident that the players have embraced the concept of the Spirit of Cricket and that all the games in this wonderful tournament will be played in the very best spirit by these true sportsmen. It is something I know most players feel strongly about,” he said.
Mali said the Sep 11-25 games between the top cricketing nations of the world would be broadcast to millions of fans in 105 countries across the globe.
The South African cities of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town will be the venues for this intensive two-week event and a host of top players from all over the globe are keen to get in.
The likes of Adam Gilchrist, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Jacob Oram, Shahid Afridi, Lasith Malinga, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Tamim Iqbal, Kevin Pietersen and Tatenda Taibu will all be there from each of the ten Full Members while players of the calibre of Steve Tikolo and Ryan Watson will be among those representing the world of associate cricket.
As well as the top 10 teams, which qualified automatically, Kenya and Scotland got to this stage having made it to the final of the ICC World Cricket League Division 1, held in Nairobi in February.