Adelaide a Big Winner in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Adelaide will host the biggest game in limited overs cricket as part of its schedule of warm-up matches, three pool games and a quarter final for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

The draw has India playing its opening match in the tournament in Adelaide against their traditional rivals Pakistan on Sunday 15 February 2015.

The last time these two sides played against each other during the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June, the game drew an estimated international viewing audience of one billion people. Tickets to the match in Birmingham were sold out in under three hours.

The schedule announced yesterday also guarantees that Adelaide will host a quarter final of the tournament featuring Australia should they make the knockout stage.

Premier Jay Weatherill said that Adelaide would never have a better opportunity to showcase the city and State to a world audience than at this event. "The Cricket World Cup is considered to be the third biggest sporting event in the world behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup," Mr Weatherill said.

"The Government, through the South Australian Tourism Commission, had a specific strategy in bidding for a schedule that would guarantee the maximum exposure for Adelaide and South Australia.

"What has been announced today exactly matches that strategy because not only will India be playing their first match on the opening weekend of the tournament in Adelaide, but they will based here for a week prior to that game playing warm-up matches, including one against Australia.

"It gives South Australia an outstanding opportunity to get significant leverage into India. The SATC will use the event to market the State as a tourism destination and other agencies will use the focus on Adelaide to highlight business and trade opportunities.

"Supporting our relationship with India, I have also extended an invitation to the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to send a squad of young players from underprivileged backgrounds to Adelaide during that summer to train in our international class facilities.

"I hope this is an arrangement that will continue on into the future and will be a significant legacy from Adelaide hosting the event."

Mr Weatherill said having an England match (against Bangladesh) and another match featuring Pakistan were further bonuses in the Adelaide schedule.

ICC Cricket World Cup Local Organising Committee Chief Executive, John Harnden said the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and the State's range of tourist attractions made it an ideal host city. "Adelaide Oval is famous throughout the cricket world," Mr Harnden said.

"With its capacity increased to more than 50,000 and new world class spectator facilities, it is a great stage on which to play some of the biggest matches in the tournament come 2015.

"We look forward to continuing to work with the South Australian Government, the Tourism Commission and the South Australian Cricket Association to promote the tournament, the city and the State across Australia and New Zealand and around the world."

The Premier also paid tribute to the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) for their support in negotiating the venue requirements for Adelaide Oval.

The Chief Executive of the South Australian Cricket Association, Keith Bradshaw said the allocation of some of best matches was a great reward for patient South Australian cricket fans that will be enjoying their first cricket season at a redeveloped Adelaide Oval.

"The colour and excitement of a Team India at a World Cup will leave a lasting legacy for cricket and our focus on India acknowledges the importance of this emerging market," Mr Bradshaw said.

Premier Weatherill said that throughout the tournament the Southern Plaza at Adelaide Oval will operate as a giant fan zone with music and events reflecting the multicultural nature of the tournament, alongside sponsor activation zones and of course the opportunity to watch World Cup matches on the giant screens.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 runs from 14 February 2015 - 28 March 2015.

Adelaide's matches at Adelaide Oval are scheduled to be:
Australia v India - warm-up match - Sunday, 8 February 2015
India v qualifier - warm-up match - Thursday, 12 February 2015
India v Pakistan - pool match - Sunday, 15 February 2015
England v Bangladesh - pool match - Monday, 9 March 2015
Pakistan v qualifier - pool match - Saturday, 15 March 2015
Australia* v TBC - Quarter Final - Friday, 20 March 2015
*In the event Australia qualifies for the knock out stage.