Public ballot process for World Cup tickets

The ICC on Saturday announced the process for the public sale of tickets for the World Cup semi-finals in Colombo and Mohali on March 29 and 30 respectively, and final, to be held at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 2.

When tickets were initially programmed to go on sale on February 21 the demand was so great that the website was overloaded.

- World Cup coverage

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said there will be a public ballot system, similar to that which is used in the majority of global sporting events. The ballot will open on Monday, February 28.

"It was most unfortunate and no blame should be directed at Kyazoonga, the ICC's official ticketing partner, as no one could have anticipated that tens of millions people would be trying to access the site an hour before it went live. In truth Kyazoonga have been an innocent third party in all the issues we have had with ticketing.

"In conjunction with the hosts, we have now agreed that a ballot system is the best means of releasing any available tickets for the semis and final. The high demand clearly proves the massive attraction of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and format of 50 overs cricket," Lorgat said, in Bangalore on Saturday.

In dismissing media perceptions about a letter addressed to ICC president Sharad Pawar, Lorgat added: "To help resolve our ticketing challenges we have also engaged the offices of the ICC president Mr Pawar to assist us as he has done with several other issues related to World Cup planning."

Lorgat also reflected on the fact that two contractors had been arrested in Sri Lanka for selling tickets on the black market.

"We will support and encourage the actions of Sri Lanka Cricket in having such persons arrested for black market selling. It must serve as a warning that we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who abuses the system and sells tickets illegally," Lorgat said.