Gavaskar given 2003 World Cup honour

Viv Richards, Richard Hadlee, Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border have accepted roles as international ambassadors for the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa.

Ali Bacher, the executive director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, made the announcement at a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday, and added that the names of other international ambassadors will be announced at a later date.

"They all deemed it an honour to be involved and are delighted to help make this World Cup a truly memorable one," Bacher said.

Bacher is hoping to recruit at least seven or eight of the world's most famous cricketers to visit schools, hold coaching clinics and give motivational talks to young players during the World Cup, which runs from February 6 to March 19 2003.

Details of where the 14 competing teams will prepare immediately before the tournament were also revealed on Monday.

South Africa have been allocated to Cape Town. The opening match will be played at Newlands Cricket Ground against either England or the West Indies.

England have been assigned to the coastal town of Port Elizabeth where they played the first test match staged in South Africa in 1889.

Australia have been assigned to the university town of Potchefstroom, two hours from Johannesburg.

Each team will play two matches against the provincial side in their allotted region as well as host two development clinics and an official civic reception.

"We have tried to steer clear of just sending black teams to black areas and white teams to white areas," said Bacher.

"This is part of our policy to use cricket to bring people together."

Bacher also announced that the World Cup Policy Committee has allocated just under 700,000 pounds ($1.01 million) for safety and security during the tournament.

"We are looking at employing over 80 close protection officers, which are essentially bodyguards, for the players and officials," said Bacher.

About 575,000 pounds ($831,400) has been allocated to the improvement of playing and practice facilities at the 12 venues, 466,000 pounds for the improvement of sound systems at the venues, and 54,166 pounds for the provision of emergency generators at the venues in the event of a power failure.

Mail Cricket Editor