Four of the most distinguished names in cricket – Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Richard Hadlee, Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar – have accepted invitations to become international ambassadors for the 2003 Cricket World Cup, it was announced on Monday.

All four volunteered their services after being approached by 2003 CWC executive director Ali Bacher and will visit South Africa for a two week-period during February and March 2003.

They will visit schools, conduct coaching clinics, assist sponsorship drives and generally promote cricket during the tournament.

Another "three or four" international ambassadors are to be invited, said Bacher, along with 20-25 prominent current and former South African sportsmen and women who will perform similar roles.

Also announced on Monday were the venues where the various World Cup teams will be hosted during the tournament.

The venues are: South Africa in Cape Town; West Indies in Bloemfontein; Sri Lanka in Kimberley; England in Port Elizabeth; Kenya in East London; India in Durban; Bangladesh in Pietermaritzburg; Pakistan in Johannesburg; Canada in Johannesburg; New Zealand in Centurion; Australia in Potchefstroom; Holland in Paarl; Namibia in Benoni; Zimbabwe in Harare/Bulawayo.

Bacher said that hosts South Africa had been placed in Cape Town because they would be playing in the opening match of the tournament against either England or the West Indies on February 6.

He said England would go to Port Elizabeth because of the historical associations of the city – South Africa played its first Test match against England in PE in 1889 while Australia had asked to be billetted in Potchefstroom at the recommendation of Allan Border who coached the Australian team in South Africa during the 1999 Youth World Cup.

In other announcements on Monday, the names of 10 team liaison officers for the tournament were announced. The liaison officers are: Patrick Steytler (Kwazulu Natal), Collin Dettmer (Northerns), Michael Kaplan (Kwazulu Natal), Haroon Nosarka (Gauteng), Bruce Risien (Western Province), Lux Qoboshiyana (Border), Leon Coetzee (Eastern Province), Fezele Mguqulwa (Western Province), Pankie Mangisa (Gauteng), Sundra Reddy (Kwazulu Natal).

A further two liaison officers have still to be appointed, said Bacher, and all would receive intensive training from Doug Russell and Gulam Rajah before taking up their positions.

Bacher said that the World Cup policy committee had approved the following budgets:

 R8-million for safety and security during the tournament

 R6.9-million to improve playing and practice facilities at the 12 World Cup venues in South Africa

 R5.6-million for the improvement of the sound systems at the 12 venues.

 R650 000 for the provision of emergency electricity generators at the venues in the event of power failures.

He also said that the International Tour Operator for the tournament would be a consortium consisting of Gullinjet Sports Travel (London), Edusport Travel (South Africa) and Autshumatu Investments Pty Ltd (South Africa). Autshumatu Investments is a black empowerment company and will provide the executive director of the consortium.

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