All eyes will be on Bangladesh when it opens the ICC World Cup of Cricket against rival India Feb. 19. For the first time Bangladesh will co-host the tenth World Cup with neighbors Sri Lanka and India, the latter to host the cup final on April 2. The 2011 event has 14 countries competing for the title. India, considered a top international squad, will be looking to make this its World Cup. The home of nearly one billion people who celebrate the game as religion will host most of the matches. Many games will be played as day/nighters in order to give both players and their fans some welcomed relief from the heat. Australia, the king of cricket for the last decade with three World Cup wins, including 2007’s final against Pakistan, may have seen its reign come to an end. However, recent setbacks for the Aussies mean this year’s tournament is open to a larger group of potential victors. The World Cup, played every four years, began in 1975 and has seen the skill level of the game move into countries not traditionally known as cricket powerhouses.
Traveling to the centre of cricket universe
For the traveling cricket enthusiast booking a seat at World Cup 2011 may be easier than you think. Tickets at some of the venues are being sold for as low as 20 cents USD. India is the obvious destination with 29 of the matches played there. However, the other hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have smaller populations to contend with, so tickets may be easier to get. Beware of the extreme daytime heat that can plague the region – so drink lots of bottled water! Also, ask your doctor for recommended vaccinations.
