Share

ICC work to ease Visa issues

Colombo - The International Cricket Council on Friday said it was working to ease visa complications for overseas fans wishing to travel to the 2011 World Cup on the Indian sub-continent.

Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, who are co-hosting the flagship event, have promised to speed-up and simplify the visa issuing process, ICC vice president Sharad Pawar told reporters in Colombo.

"With a valid ticket, the visa process for the matches will be made easier," Pawar said after a meeting of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 central organising committee in Colombo.

The 14-nation showpiece event, held every four years, opens on February 19, 2011 with India taking on Bangladesh at the Mirpur stadium near Dhaka.

While Sri Lanka allows visa on arrival for foreign tourists for up to 30 days, tourists travelling to India need to apply in advance for a single-entry visa.

The ICC said the organising committee was working with the Indian government to allow multiple entry visas for all supporters with valid match tickets, except those from Pakistan.

Pakistan, the fourth Test-playing nation in South Asia, were removed as co-hosts due to security concerns in the volatile country.

The 43-day tournament will be played across 13 venues in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and ends with the final on April 2 at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium, which is under renovation.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said preparations were in full swing in all three countries to renovate and build new stadiums.

Tickets will go on sale in June and will be priced at between 50 US cents and around 50 dollars, officials said.

"Ticket prices will be kept as affordable as possible to allow younger fans to fill the stadium," Lorgat said.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE