ICC scraps reserve days for World Cup pool matches

H S Rao in London

The International Cricket Council on Monday announced that there will be no reserve days for rain-affected matches in the preliminary round of next year's World Cup.

The ICC Executive Board took the decision, the ICC and the World Cup Organising Committee said in a joint statement.

"The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 is a significant logistical challenge. The tournament is taking place in three countries, at 15 venues over 43 days. For this to be managed effectively, the schedule needs a degree of certainty in the first round," ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said.

However, reserve days will still apply to matches from the Super Six stage of the tournament from March 7.

For the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on March 23, two reserve days have been set aside.

"Everything, including hotel accommodation, air travel and satellite television time, would have had to be double booked to accommodate these reserve days," World Cup Executive Director Dr Ali Bacher said.

"Logistically for the teams, their supporters, the local and overseas media and the organisers this created several potential risks to the tight schedule and had the potential to disrupt the remainder of the tournament," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor