World Cup schedule may be curtailed

Admitting that the long drawn schedule of the 2007 cricket World Cup has ended up doing more harm than good, tournament managing director Chris Dehring has conceded that the showpiece event8217;s itinerary may be trimmed for the next edition in Asia.

8220;One of the shortfalls of the last World Cup in South Africa was that rain played such an important factor. We decided this time to make sure you had adequate rain days so there is a rain day for every game. But of course that is going to elongate the tournament,8221; Dehring said as he elaborated on the reasons to have the long schedule.

8220;It is a difficult balancing act but you would always prefer a shorter event. We would have preferred a shorter event had it been possible, but to do that there would not have been rain days. I think they may change it next time,8221; he added.

The tournament will be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011. However, Dehring remained adamant that the low turnout at the stadiums has got nothing to do with high ticket prices and tight security arrangements.