Speed: Cwc Will Be Reduced In Length

International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed has admitted that
the 2007 Cricket World Cup has been too long and will look to reduce the length
of the next tournament by seven to 10 days.

The Cricket World Cup, which finishes with the final between Australia and
Sri Lanka this Saturday, began on 13th March and has lasted 47 days.

The schedule and ticketing pricing system has been criticised by players and
supporters alike and has led to half-empty grounds at many of the earlier games.

Speed commented: ‘We listen to criticism, and there has been a lot of it from
people saying it’s been too long – so we’ll look to make it shorter.

‘We’ll seek to reduce this 47-day World Cup by seven or 10 days, and
hopefully we’ll get it down to somewhere between five and six weeks next time.

‘To those people who have said the tournament has been too long, it is worth
pointing out that there are three fewer matches this time, compared to four
years ago, despite an additional two teams taking part.

‘It would have been great if every one of the stadia had been full for every
match, but that has not happened.’