ECB committed to ticket fairness

The ECB are working closely with Associate members for the ICC World T20 2009

The England and Wales Cricket Board has reiterated it is committed to working with the Dutch, Scottish and Irish cricket authorities to ensure as many tickets as possible for the ICC World Twenty20 2009 get to the fans of the three Associate teams.

Zimbabwe’s decision to step back from the tournament means certainty for organisers, teams and supporters, with Scotland - now included in next June’s 12-team event - Ireland and the Netherlands knowing which groups they will be placed in.

Due to that certainty, organisers are anticipating an increasing demand for tickets from the supporters of the three teams and are looking at ways of addressing it.

Tournament director Steve Elworthy said: “With the final line-up for the ICC World Twenty20 now decided, all three Associate teams know where and when they will be playing.

“On that basis we are expecting an increasing demand for tickets from supporters of those countries and we are looking at ways of addressing that because we want to ensure as many people as possible following those teams get the chance to catch the action.

“We are working with both our ticketing partners and the cricket boards of Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland to ensure we get this right and we will keep the public updated as the process continues."

Zimbabwe’s decision to step back means Ireland will take a place in Group A with India and Bangladesh, the Netherlands ease into Group B alongside England and Pakistan while Scotland take a position in Group D with South Africa and New Zealand.