CricInfo365. Daily cricket news from all over the world in your mailbox, free!
Wills International Cup Countdown
By Zahid Newaz in Dhaka
13 October 1998
Latest news from Bangladesh on the tournament which begins in eleven
days time:
- Former State Minister for Youth and Sports and Dhaka City Convenor
of main opposition party BNP has extended total support for the
successful holding of the Wills Cup. Sadek Hossain Khoka, however, is
critical of the statement of State Minister for Sports Obaidul Quader
who on Sunday had asked for withdrawal of opposition's mass hunger
strike on October 18. Khoka in a statement on Monday night said the
BNP programme has nothing to do with the cricket nor it will hamper
the tournament. ``I have talked with the sports minister and NSC
officials assuring them of BNP's total cooperation for making the
tournament a success,'' Khoka added. He also quested all quarters to
refrain from creating confusion among the people involving BNP
programme with the cricket.
- The floodlight and electronic scoreboard set up at Bangabandhu
National Stadium for Wills International Cup Cricket have been
inaugurated. Bangladesh Finance Minister SAMS Kibria switched on the
floodlights and the electronic scoreboard on Monday afternoon amidst
cheers from a few thousand sports lovers. They converged at the
stadium to watch the unique cricketing display, first in the country.
As soon as the electronic scoreboard was switched on, words flashed
on the board separately welcoming the spectators at the stadium,
ministers present on the occasion and Event Manager Asif Iqbal.
- John C Bodnar, a senior producer of WorldTel, the tournament
telecast authority, arrived in Dhaka Monday on a one-day visit to see
the telecast arrangements. Indian network Doordarshan has the
telecast rights. WorldTel will provide broadcasting arrangements.
Some 60 WorldTel staff and crew will arrive on October 20.
- Players, coaches and officials of the nine test playing countries
will be staying at Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel during the tournament.
Six umpires and match refereies will also stay at the hotel. Hotel
Sheraton will host ICC officials and invited guests. Foreign
journalists will be accommodated at Hotel Sundarban.
- Bangladesh Cricket Board has approved 24 food shops for the Wills
Cup. A total of 75 organisations had applied for selling foods during
the tourney. Of the 24 stalls, two will be in hospitality boxes and
VIP galleries while 22 others in club houses and galleries.
Source: CricInfo365
Feedback on this article can be forwarded to CricInfo365 at editor@cricinfo.com
help@cricinfo.com