Bacher paints rosy picture

Ali also said that the enthusiasm of the Indian fans has been overwhelming, but the match that has seen the most number of requests is the league match between England and Pakistan. That is just a small segment of the 800,000 fans expected to visit South Africa next year. But the number won’t scare Bacher, whose mind is focused on the bigger things. The success of this momentous event does not merely mean flawless organisation but it also means victory for the home team. And Ali very well understands this. ‘‘The reason the rugby World Cup here was called a big success was mainly due to the reason that South Africa won it and if this gets repeated in cricket it will give a huge boost to the game in the country,’’ he said.

The big boost here means more blacks opting for cricket as compared to the more popular football. All through the half an hour meeting with Bacher it is hard to miss out on the colour and racial issue which crop every other minute. The opening ceremony he says will be a melting point of various cultures in the country. ‘‘The blacks, the coloured, the Indians and the whites will all be part of the two-hour long ceremony,’’ he said. The same combination once again comes in the picture when he talks about the 3,500 volunteers which be guiding the spectators, the media and those escorting the players. It is not just Bacher who is over-emphasising this vital point, the hard to miss and most common logo is the zebra mascot— Dazzler—which stares one in the faces at every corner of Johannesburg. The black and white stripes always reminds of Bacher’s point.

When asked about the biggest fear he has on orgainising an event of this magnitude he gives a cocky reply, ‘‘None, we are very positive.’’ Remind him about the recent bombing by right-wing groups in the black dominated Soweto region or the racial conflict in the neighbouring Zimbabwe, who also are the co-host and he dismisses them. ‘‘Things are improving in Zimbabwe and I have no doubt that matches will be held there as for the situation in South Africa these are isolated incidents which can be easily controlled,’’ he said.

A highly keyed up and enthusiastic Bacher is also confident that the ICC contract issue too will be settled well before the World Cup begins. After painting a rosy picture about the orgainising part he comes to his Mission II: South Africa winning the World Cup. Not ready to stick his neck out he says ‘‘It is difficult to predict anything. And South Africa after coming so close to the Cup twice but missing out I won’t comment on that.’’ But he says that he along with the chairman of selectors Henry Omar have almost zeroed in on the 11 that will play the World Cup. Any new faces? ‘‘Look out for a 19-year-old black pacer Zondeki Munde, he is the fastest in the country right now and also there a promising all-rounder called Robin Peterson,’’ he says.