I think it is time somebody posted this thread, so here i go. Ever since the start of this competition which is supposed to be the flagship of cricket for show to the rest of the world, things have been not up to the mark. Unprepared stadiums, horrible weather and poor crowds are just part of the big picture. However when it comes to the coach of a major international team being MURDERED in his teams hotel suite, which is supposed to be under a curtain of security, that all goes to hell. After this said incident, the police are bumbling around inept as they can get, not having any sense to do a proper forensic report, a proper search or investigation or by the most recent news even a proper autopsy. for heavens sake! It is just a matter of viewing on the CCTV camera in the corrider who went into his room last and quesioning them. However the police chief seems to love the camera and has now launched an international appeal for witnesses to come forth. They have not even got a single clue. In light of all this, i am afraid this was a huge mistake. The World cup should not be held in a country so badly organized or laidback to bother about things such as proper ticketing, and security. After all there is a bit of a difference in organizing a block party and a major event like this. Heck if this would have happened in the sub continent half the teams would have left by now, this is a shambolic mess!!

Comments?

I think the picture that you are painting is a bit unfair. Yes, things are a bit iffy by Western standards, but the Caribbeans have done what they can with their limited resources.

I think you will fins that at least some of the unprepared stadiums - certainly the one in Guyana - has non-Caribbean blame to be placed. The locals cannot be blamed for the weather; at least it stops raining after some time in the Caribbean, which is more than what we can say out here in the UK. It is too early to assume that the police are off track in this one. I believe that Scotland Yard is involved in the investigations behind the scenes and they will get their man (or men) sooner or later. Even if they did have good clues, they would hardly make those public when investigations are still in progress. Subcontinent? I am from there and know for a fact that bribery and corruption are a fact of life far more than it can ever be in the Caribbean. If this tournament had been in the subcontinent and similar events had taken place, Woolmer's body would in all likelihood have simply have disappeared and we would be left to speculate what became of him. The Jamaican Police are at least doing some sort of investigation.

Well, as one of the few West Indians here allow me to retort:

There has been talk about poor stadiums and things not ready, but the majority of journalists and teams have been pleased with what they have seen.

Horrible weather?

Don't blame the West Indies, blame the ICC!!!

Poor crowds?

I can only apologise that most West Indians can't afford to go the games as you would so wish.

Thank you Hercule Poirot for such insight.

I am sure from all the way where you are, such clear facts are so evident.

By the way, was there really someone in the grassy knoll at Dallas?

Ahhhhh.....Laidback!!

I was waiting for that lovely one-size-fits-all-West Indians adjective to come out.

Never fails.

I think you missed off "Always smiling and laughing"

And I love the bit about the block party. Lovely stereotyping.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

The only dissappointment I have in regards to the world cup is that they did not play a game or two in the United States - If the World Cup is the promotion of the game, then what better place to show it.

Other than that - see Ninjaman's comments.

I'm personally very disappointed at the pricing, its such a shame that these stadiums aren't chock full of supporters, so much atmosphere is lost !! I am not sure who to blame for this though, the ICC?

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- VVVRulz..

So far, this has been the most boring and listless world-cup ever. It has nothing to do with it being held in West Indies.

To start with, for such an event to last for more than 6 weeks is simply too long a period. Secondly having too many minnow teams playing makes it almost a joke. True, Bangladesh and Ireland are in the super-eight phase. But this does not prove anything. Every cricket fan knows that in one-day cricket, it is not the better team that always wins - instead the team which plays well on that day wins.

You can't blame the West Indians for the horrible weather. I'd call that an act of God!

As for the police being corrupt - surely you mean inept? Corrupt suggests something much more sinister.

I agree that the (English) bloke in charge of the investigation seems to be quite clueless.
I suspect he moved to Jamaica for a cushy life, then someone got inconveniently murdered and he's had to stop spending time at the hairdressers with his luxurious quiff, and actually do some detective work!
I had to laugh yesterday at the "Police ask witnesses to come forward" headline on Ceefax.
It's all getting a bit desperate. Next they'll be saying "please can someone confess? Go on, you know you want to..."

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Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

Would Mr Hutt be slagging the competition off if his team were still in it?

Sour grapes me think.

Sour grapes... you bet i have sour grapes... my teams coach may have been murdered in the WI. He died a death he did not deserve, what kind of security did he and my team get after they were threatened by phone for days before the Ireland match? What kind of five star hotel has security cameras which need to be digitized in the world of today. I do agree on the pricing and the weather not being the fault of the West Indies but right from the openingceremony things have been mismanaged. Please do not tell me i am beign sterotypical, when the stage for the opening ceremony is being bolted down in place while the opening speeches take place that is not even laid back that is plain lazy. If some of the stadiums were contracted out to foreign companies, was there noone over seeing their progress?? these are all just excuses for a mess. the ICC as well as the WI have a lot to answer for here.

http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/wc20...ry/287680.html