Newlands will host the opening match of the 2003 World Cup outgoing UCB MD Dr Ali Bacher announced in Durban today. The match will be a day/night affair and will take place on 7 February 2003.

Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) cricket officials will also be requested to co-ordinate the opening ceremony. The opening match will in all likelihood pit current world champions Australia against hosts South Africa. This will be a carbon copy of the opening world cup rugby tournament held in South Africa in 1996. South Africa went on to win the rugby world cup and UCB officials will be hoping for a repeat in 2003. Newlands will host four other games including three preliminary matches and a super six match.

WPCA officials will soon release details of the planned upgrade of the Newlands Cricket Ground for the tournament. The purchase of the NCG by the Association is also progressing well with the transfer of the ground to the WPCA from the Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) expected to take place within the next eighteen months.

Other announcements include the awarding of the final to the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Kingsmead in Durban and St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth will host the semi final matches.

© CricInfo