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With six weeks left for the World Cup, the South Africans are bracing themselves to the fact that the big event will be upon them soon and they have a job in hand to show to the world and prove that this was the best that ever was.

Fifty-four matches are to be played starting from Feb 9 at various centres which include already established venues and the one's which are still in the process of being rebuilt and renovated.

The one-day series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Tests against them were taken as a dress rehearsal and experiment to assess the security arrangements and crowd management. The series against Pakistan isalso being treated as such. But there is a lot to be desired. Nearer to the event, the organisers say that all things will be in order to make it a success.

In the one-day games that Pakistan played recently, strict security was in evidence. Security guards, stewards, metal detectors, searching of bags, all seemed to be in order. And plains-clothed policemen mingled with the crowd to make sure that banned substances like sharp objects, whether metal, wooden or glass bottles and alcohol were not smuggled in.

Like at Sharjah, there were also guard dogs with their handlers posted round the ground at Port Elizabeth where Pakistan had their only victory in the five match one-day series. The organisers say the experiment could be repeated for the safety of the crowd and players.

The ICC sleuths were also seen hanging around having their lunches and drinks hoping that there presence will be a deterrent for the wheelers and dealers. Whether they will ever succeed in that will always remain a matter of speculation.

The worrying thing however for some of the visiting journalists is the lack of communication facilities in the press boxes at the venues where Pakistan has recently played matches and where World Cup games are due to be played.

There were no internet or phone facilities available at any media box unless one had his own dedicated phone line. Not even a coin-box or card operated phone line as was provided in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and also for the first time in England during the 1999 World Cup.

A great majority of scorers in the box seemed untrained and agency men struggled at times to wire a correct scorecard in time to meet their deadlines.

Organizers claim that when the big event comes nearer things may start to look right and a lot better than it is at the moment. The management of the World Cup led by Dr Ali Bacher is racing against time but they promise a problem free World Cup and the best that has ever been organised. Only time will tell if they are right.

© Dawn