ICC tells 2011 World Cup hosts to hit 'overdrive'
KARACHI (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has told the four host countries of the 2011 World Cup to speed up their preparations for the event.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat told representatives of the Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cricket boards during a meeting in New Delhi this week that they needed to fast track preparations that are running 10 months behind schedule.
The joint World Cup committee met formally for the first time since it was formed in June 2007.
"The ICC had advised us to go into overdrive," Saleem Altaf, the director-general of the Pakistan board, told Reuters on Friday. "The budget for the World Cup would be approved next year in June."
Altaf said the ICC would also be contacting the respective governments to discuss a common visa for World Cup visitors.
"They want a common visa like the one issued for the last World Cup in West Indies in 2007," he said.
India is due to host 22 matches, including the final of the tournament, with 14 matches in Pakistan, nine in Sri Lanka and six matches.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will host the semi-finals while Bangladesh will host the opening ceremony.
Five members of Sri Lanka's women's cricket team claim to have lost their day jobs because they refused to give up their cricket careers. They include the captain Shashikala Siriwardene, a human resources assistant for clothing firm Slimline. Siriwardene told the BBC: "They told me to chose either cricket or the job." Her team-mates Chamari Polgampola, Sripali Weerakkody, Chamika Bandara and Dilani Manodara have also been made jobless by the same company. Siriwardene said her employers had previously been supportive: "For over two and a half years, the company helped me - offering duty leave, transport, medicine and sports facilities." Unlike their male counterparts, Sri Lanka's women get no financial assistance, whether from the national cricket board or sponsors. However Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Arjuna Ranatunga has pledged to find the players new jobs, Siriwardene explained. Slimline's HR director, Shanaz Freena, said the players had voluntarily submitted their resignations. "They submitted their resignations saying they got some other job offers and the team wanted to stay together. We just accepted their resignations," she said. The team are preparing for their second international tournament this year, against West Indies. "Money is not the main concern. We are currently focused on winning against international teams and developing ourselves," added Siriwardene. "We would like to see Sri Lankan fans come out to support us against West Indies." Sri Lanka women stars 'jobless'
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