NEW DELHI: Despite concerns about the size and composition of crowds in the initial stages of the event, Greg Barclay, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), remains optimistic that India will deliver an "outstanding" World Cup.
Pakistan's team director, Mickey Arthur, voiced his frustration at the ICC for what he perceived as inadequate support for his team during their high-profile match against arch-rivals India at Ahmedabad's 132,000 capacity stadium on Saturday.
Arthur expressed that the game seemed more like a "BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) event" than a major international cricket fixture.
"Every event we have, there are always criticisms from various quarters, things that we will take away and try to work on, try to do better," Barclay said in answer to a question from AFP in Mumbai on Monday.
The BCCI, the global game's financial powerhouse, faced criticism for several issues surrounding the 2028 World Cup. These concerns included the delayed announcement of the fixture list, which was made only three months before the tournament's commencement. The schedule underwent sudden changes, including alterations to the dates of some of the most significant matches.
Fans experienced issues with online ticketing systems, and matches that did not feature the host nation suffered from low attendance.
Additionally, Pakistan fans were effectively barred from the Ahmedabad stadium due to visa-related challenges, resulting in a predominantly Indian supporter presence as the hosts secured a convincing seven-wicket victory.
But Barclay, speaking in Mumbai after the International Olympic Committee voted to include Twenty20 cricket in the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, defended the organisation of the World Cup.
"This event has only just started, let's just see how the whole thing plays out. Then we will review what we could change, how we can improve World Cups and the general offering around cricket," he said.
"I'm satisfied that it will be an outstanding World Cup."
In Ahmedabad, Pakistan were backed only by a handful of expatriate fans who had made the trip from the United States and United Kingdom.
"It didn't seem like an ICC event to be brutally honest," Arthur said afterwards
"It seemed like a bilateral series; it seemed like a BCCI event."
Arthur also accused the public address system organisers of favouring India by refusing to play "Dil Dil Pakistan", the nation's unofficial anthem.
"So yes, that does play a role, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse," Arthur added.
Since the 2008 attacks on Mumbai, India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral series, with New Delhi and Islamabad still involved in a bitter diplomatic dispute.
(With AFP inputs)
