Winning the WC is a dream of every cricketer: Lorgat

Mumbai: As the ICC announced the schedule for the 2011 World Cup on Monday, the International cricket body’s Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said he was happy with the pace at which the various venues are being prepared for the coveted world cricket event.

"A year ago we were concerned about the slow progress of the preparations. But things have started to move on and we are on track. Now every staging centre knows the schedule and will be in a position to prepare for the matches," he told reporters after announcing the World Cup schedule.

The tournament was initially spread over India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh but had to be moved out of Pakistan owing to security reasons.

Tournament Director Ratnakar Shetty said the organising committee had to do a lot of hard work after it was decided to host all the matches involving Pakistan during the league in Sri Lanka.

"It was an important day for the preparation of the event. We can now say preparations have taken off in right earnest.

"It was a tough job for logistical reasons to schedule these matches as it not only involved teams to travel from city to city but from country to country too," said Shetty, who is also the Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI.

The ever-existing political tension between India and Pakistan aggravated after the Mumbai blasts in 2008 after which the bilateral ties between the two nations have suffered a big blow.

But according to Sharad Pawar, the ICC Vice-President and Chairman of the Central Organising Committee, the cricket loving public of India would wholeheartedly receive any cricket team to play irrespective of the political disharmony.

"I am confident the sports-loving population will welcome anyone and there's no exception," he said.

Pawar also promised great facilities for the game, the sponsors, spectators and media in the sub-continent during the 43-day world cricket event.

While the sheer existence of the 50-over format has been brought under scrutiny off late, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said the World Cup still remains a coveted dream of every cricketing country and a cricketer will give anything to bring the cup home at least once during his career.

"Players will say they will play for nothing (prize money) in the World Cup. The World Cup is a prestigious trophy and it is one medal all cricketers aspire to win," he said.