ICC satisfied with World Cup preparations

Dhaka:

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be in attendance when the country hosts the 2011 cricket World Cup's opening ceremony at the Bangabandhu Stadium here.

Dhaka will stage the ceremony in 13 months time on February 17.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be present at the opening ceremony, showing the support we have for the event at the highest level," said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

Bangladesh is one of three joint-hosts for the World Cup. Lorgat said being a part of the mega-event will be a huge boost for the game in Bangladesh.

"The opening ceremony will be in Dhaka and on that day we can expect close to a billion people to be tuning in from more than 200 territories around the globe.

"It is great that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has committed to attend the opening ceremony, indicating support at the very highest level," he said.

Lorgat was speaking after a meeting of the ICC CWC 2011 Central Organising Committee in Dhaka.

Bangladesh will host a total of eight matches during the World Cup, including the opening fixture and two quarter-finals. Lorgat said the ICC was satisfied with the preparations for the event.

"The preparations for the 2011 World Cup have been going on well. All the three countries have been working as a team not as three different countries," he said.