Despite the lack of star cicketers, KSCA expects huge turn out for Afro-Asia Cup which would now be played on a relaid track.
NEW DELHI: The Afro-Asia Cup might have lost its sheen due to the pull out of several stars and the accompanying negative publicity, but hosts Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) are confident of a strong response for the tournament.
"The excitement is picking up slowly. We still have star players lined up. Sourav Ganguly, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, they are all stars," KSCA Secretary Brijesh Patel told PTI from Bangalore.
The former India batsman believed that although the first of three one-dayers in the series, to be played under lights at the M A Chinnaswamy stadium, was scheduled on a weekday (June 6), there would be a good crowd turn out. "The ticket sales is picking up," he said.
The day-night tie would be played on a relaid track.The KSCA had few weeks ago initiated a comprehensive programme to enhance the quality of the wicket, not only at the MAC stadium but in also other grounds in Mysore, Davangere and other districts."This is a completely KSCA initiative and had nothing to do with the hosting of Afro-Asia Cup," Patel said.
Under the programme, three experts from the New Zealand Turf Institute have been overseeing the relaying of pitches and also training the grounds men."The experts guided the groundsmen through every stage of relaying the wicket. They trained them on growing the grass, how to decide what is the right amount of watering and such things," the KSCA Secretary said.
The Afro-Asia Cup, a brainchild of former BCCI and ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, was conceived as an annual event and was to be held for three years initially.
The first edition was hosted by South Africa but it was not played last year after Dalmiya's rival faction made a clean sweep of the BCCI elections. The event anyway has failed to generate enthusiasm among the fans and the players alike.
The Asian team will be without Indian captain Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, Sri Lankan offie Muttiah Muralitharan and Pakistan's mercurial Shoaib Akhtar among others.
Patel, however, did not feel that Dravid not turning out for the regional squad in his home town was a blow to the organization of the match.
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