India and Pakistan to debate final location

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teaser May 10, 2006, 8:35pm 1

India and Pakistan to debate final location
Osman Samiuddin
May 10, 2006

A decision on the venues for the semi-finals and final of the 2011 World Cup - to be held jointly in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - will be made over the next three to four months, the Pakistan Cricket Board said today.

Addressing reporters at the National Stadium, in Karachi, the chairman Shaharyar Khan denied that a decision had already been taken for Pakistan to host the final and for India to host the semi-finals. “During the next few months together we will decide where opening ceremonies, super eight venues, semis and the final will be held.”

Reports had previously suggested Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium may play host to the final, as it had done in the 1996 World Cup but Shaharyar said that wasn’t certain yet. In India meanwhile, it was reported that the BCCI were keen on hosting the final, given that Pakistan had held the last one. “I have said and will say again that it would be good to replicate the 1996 scenario but we are open to other suggestions. That is just my own feeling but it will be decided in the forthcoming months with the Indian board.”

Shaharyar also lauded the efforts of the co-hosts in putting together a successful bid, claiming that the one-month grace period they received having failed to hand in the bid on time, helped them in the end. And he reconfirmed that had it not been for the board’s reminder to their Indian counterparts about the compliance book - the final bid document - Asia may well have lost the bid. “Sharad Pawar sent us a letter thanking us for the timely reminder we gave them about the compliance bid, barring which we would not have won.”

The PCB, as part of their preparations, are also planning on bringing the administration of stadiums in Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi - all venues for 2011 - under their control. Currently, the PCB are in charge of affairs at the Gaddafi and National Stadium in Lahore and Karachi respectively, as well as a host of others.

“Our preparations for the World Cup have to begin in earnest from now and one of the first things we must accomplish is gaining control of stadiums in Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi. We need to bring these stadiums up to international standards and at the moment they aren’t. But I will impress upon the government that these stadiums need to be in our control for them to be upgraded to the requisite standard.”

I remember the 1996 WC Final which was played at Gaddafi Stadium between Aus and SL and won by SL. The whole crowd (Pakistanis) were supporting SL. I hope Gaddafi gets to host the final again and a subcontinent teams except India lifts the trophy

dhobi_bhai May 10, 2006, 11:27pm 2

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

I might be one of the only ones standing on this side of the podium, but personally, I would rather have the two semi-finals in Pakistan, rather than a one big match. Staging two matches on our home soil will provide the opportunity for all the four teams to explore the newly developed ground conditions, state and habituate, and if such is the case, I feel Multan should definitely host one of the semi-final encounters. I greatly love the overall structure and composition of the ground, the luscious green grass spread throughout, coupled with a constantly vibrating and lively atmosphere which will most likely include fans from practically all parts of the globe. The other semi-final match should be awarded to Karachi, and given the past crowd interaction which is vastly dominant in that region alongwith a very structural project currently undertaken to enhance the number of seating arrangements whilst building an overhead flyover for the playing teams to have easy access inside the vicinities of the ground, it should be no less than a fun-filled buzzing ambiance.

There are also several new projects and developments underway, the major three of them being the cricket stadiums at Sahiwal, Gwadar and Islamabad (outlined in detail). Hopefully, if they do happen to complete it in its entirety before the start of the initial proceedings, there is also a good possibility of either one of them to host one of the league/qualifying matches.

Please delete my post above. Thank you. *

dhobi_bhai May 12, 2006, 7:33pm 3

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

We would love to read different opinions of our regulars and non-regulars here on this subject matter.

In addition to, I would also like for the admin to kindly set-up a poll relating to the initial question. :)

GAME: Guess the Guppy!!

babu_lahori May 13, 2006, 9:22am 4

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

i thought it was already decided that they get the two semis and we get the final.

inzi_rocks May 13, 2006, 10:14am 5

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

ermmmmmm,................not sure,........I wud love the final 2 b in Pak but seeing as we hosted it d last tym,.it wud b fair 4 Ind to host it,.........wat a final it wud b though,............can picture it,........Lhr Gaddafi Stadium,.........Pak V Ind and Pakistan win,.......Inzi lifts the cup,.............................hmmmmmmmmmm,...we cam always dream i spose,....

Congratz PK786

sam May 13, 2006, 11:42am 6

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

hhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm...........beautiful..does it matter were it takes place?

gajar ka halwa

kambakht May 13, 2006, 3:26pm 7

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

On a personal basis I would definitely like to have the final held in Ind this time since it was held in Pak the last time. Places where it cud be held include Mohali and Eden Gardens...
However, I think at this point there is only one corporation that can decide where the final is going to be held-it is the BCCI. And if the BCCI agrees that the final be held in Pak (even tho it was held in Pak last time) then it will definitely be becoz of some vested interest that they might have at tht point of time...

cheetah May 13, 2006, 5:42pm 8

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

c’mon its in 2011 we might not even be alive then
oh and btw when is the opening cermony of 2007 world cup

Zero_one May 14, 2006, 7:59pm 9

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

Eden Gardens : Final

Ghaddafi Stadium : Semi-Final
National Stadium : Semi-Final

dhobi_bhai May 14, 2006, 8:10pm 10

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

:k::k::k:

jandali May 15, 2006, 2:15am 11

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

Srilanka should get one semifinal too

acrobi123 May 15, 2006, 2:28am 12

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

I think the final should take place in Bangladesh main stadium, I know Pakistan and India have pretty good grounds. but that ground provides support to all the team, bottom line it appreciate good cricket.

How did TLK become director???

Rock_Express May 15, 2006, 10:41am 13

Re: India and Pakistan to debate final location

The final should be in Eden Gardens, simply because bigger ground, atmosphere and a lot more seating capacity. Also, the opening and closing ceremoney should be in India, simply because they would be able to do a much better job.

Rememeber the part played by the Indians in the closing ceremoney at the Commonwealth games in Australia.

If the closing ceremoney is in Pakistan - the best I think we wil get is some army bands playing like the last time.