NEW DELHI: The International Cricket
Council on Friday marked a year’s countdown to the World Cup by promising a
successful event in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The 14-nation
showpiece event, held every four years, opens on February 19, 2011 with India
taking on Bangladesh at the Mirpur stadium near Dhaka.

“I believe
it will be one of the great sporting occasions of our time,” ICC chief executive
Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

“Given the passion the
subcontinent has for cricket and the tremendous commitment shown so far by the
hosts, everyone is even more thrilled and convinced that it will be another
successful World Cup.”

The 43-day tournament will be played across
13 venues in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and ends with the final at the
under-renovation Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2.

Pakistan,
the fourth Test-playing nation in Asia, were removed as co-hosts due to security
concerns in the volatile nation.

Tournament director Ratnakat
Shetty of India said preparations were in full swing in all three countries.

“All three co-hosts are fully geared to host the event,” said
Shetty. “A lot of energy, effort and investment is being pumped into improving
the infrastructure in the various stadia.”

Australia, looking for
their fourth successive World Cup title, showed their prowess by winning the
Champions Trophy in South Africa last year.

“Over the past six
months, we’ve developed a versatile squad which has experienced success in all
conditions,” the ICC statement quoted Australian captain Ricky Ponting as
saying.

“One of the strengths of the team during this time has been
the depth and quality of players we’ve been able to call on.

“There’s a lot of hard work to be done before the World Cup but I’m
confident we’ll arrive in the subcontinent well-prepared to win a fourth
straight title.”

The other teams in the fray will be England, South
Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Zimbabwe, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands and Kenya.