Tue, May 01, 2007 page19

• ICC laments World Cup final slip-up

  SPIN? Malcolm Speed admitted that the final had the most farcical end to any match he had seen, but said he preferred to deal with the positives

  • AP
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  Cricket's top official apologized for the blunder that ruined the end of the World Cup final and admitted it was the most farcical end to a game he had ever seen.

  The four umpires and match referee mistakenly told the Australia and Sri Lanka players that with three overs to go in the fading light at Kensington Oval on Saturday, the final might have to be completed the next day.

  However, the move was wrong because at least 20 overs had been bowled in Sri Lanka's reply to Australia's 281 for four, and the rules state the match had to be finished on the same day.

  When they were told of the mistake, the Sri Lankan batsmen returned to the field and, in virtual darkness with the Australian bowlers sending down gentle deliveries, they played out the last three overs. Australia won the final, following a three-hour delayed start from rain, by 53 runs, and secured a unique third successive World Cup crown and fourth overall.

  The officials -- match umpires Aleem Dar and Steve Bucknor, TV umpire Rudi Koertzen, fourth official Billy Bowden and match referee Jeff Crowe -- were embarrassed they had overlooked that rule, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed said at a post-championship news conference.

  Asked if it had been the most farcical end to a game he had ever seen, Speed replied: "Yes, I think it is."

  "I think it's very unfortunate. It was a very sad way to finish the World Cup. I hope that we can recall the great day's cricket we had before that very unfortunate ending," he said.

  "We sincerely apologize for that incident, for the error that was made. It was an unnecessary error, a fundamental error but it was made under difficult circumstances at the end of the match," he said.

  Speed said that the five officials -- Bucknor was standing in his fifth World Cup final in a row -- would not be disciplined.

  "They do have a future in the game. We're not going to overreact," he said. "They have earned the right to umpire in the World Cup final because they are outstanding umpires and referee."

  The bizarre end to the match provided an unfortunate final chapter to a World Cup which was plagued by problems from the start. They included ticket prices too high for the local fans, and regulations that restricted them taking musical instruments and their own food into the grounds to create the renowned Caribbean atmosphere. The result was many games played in half full grounds.

  The early elimination of powerhouse teams India and Pakistan and poor performance of host West Indies, which lost four Super 8s games in a row and failed to reach the semi-finals, also hit the tournament both in terms of revenue and the standard of competition in the late stages.

  The death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, who police say was strangled in his hotel room after his team was upset by Ireland in the first round, also cast a cloud over the championship.

  Speed said these were issues that were out of the ICC's control and he rejected much of the media criticism about the championship. He said, however, the ICC would look at ways of shortening the 47-day championship when it is next played in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2011.

  "We have heard your criticism. We accept some of them and will respond. Some of them we don't accept," Speed told reporters.

  "I prefer to deal with the positive aspects. We have completed this World Cup. There has been some excellent cricket, not as many close matches as we would have liked. But those things are out of our control," he said.

  Speed said he hoped that this World Cup won't be remembered for the negative images.

  "I think it is too early to predict how history will look at the event," he said. "The Bob Woolmer tragic death, the finish in the final -- they will be issues that will be uppermost in the minds of people."
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