NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP)
Ali Bacher, the tournament director of the 2003 World Cup, has confirmed that Kenya will host two of the competition's matches, after completing a three-day inspection tour of the facilities in Nairobi.

"The 2000 ICC Knockout Tournament was well organised, and the pitch was outstanding," Bacher told a news conference at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club, where the two games – Kenya against Sri Lanka and New Zealand – will be played in February 2003.

But Bacher warned that the Gymkhana ground needed to be improved to withstand the intensity of these two big matches.

Bacher emphasised the importance to Africa of cricket's World Cup being staged there for the first time, and announced that various activities are being organised to make the event a truly African affair. Tentative plans have been discussed for a roadshow through the four competing African countries – Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa – which would involve retired sportsmen and women from those nations.

Bacher said the roadshow would start from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, two months before the World Cup and would enter Cape Town just hours before the opening ceremony at the Newlands ground on February 8, 2003.

Bacher, the former managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), also announced the appointment of six former cricketers to promote the staging of the 2003 World Cup on the continent. Sir Richard Hadlee, the former New Zealand allrounder, is among the six cricket legends, who will travel to Africa during the competition.

The organisers of the 2003 World Cup expect around 800,000 paying spectators at the matches, plus a global television audience of around 1.2 billion.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd