TROUBLE FOR ACCREDITATION FOR WEST INDIES CRICKET WORLD CUP 2007

Even as the West Indies prepare to host, Cricket World Cup 2007, there are several questions being raised now, on the suitability of the accreditation organization for this event.

Mumbai: The accreditation agency for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy rubbished BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah's views that the process was faulty and movement of accredited people near the players' dressing rooms were restricted in conformity with the ICC's anti-corruption policies.

"The role of accreditation is to ensure that those needing access to secure areas at an event - whether they are competitors, journalists, officials, VIPs or contractors - have the access they require to undertake their tasks. By the same token, it is also necessary for practical, safety and security reasons, to restrict access to certain areas," said Nigel Rushman, the MD of Rushman's (the agency dealing with the task), in a media statement.

Rushman said his agency was instructed to limit the access to dressing room areas.

"The ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit have a policy of restricting access to the dressing room areas and Rushmans is instructed to issue passes according to this policy. As the vast majority of officials are not permitted to be in these areas, access is limited accordingly," he said.

Rushman's statement came to counter criticism of the accreditation process reported in the Indian media, in particular by Shah, who suggested that the ICC had been at fault for contracting his firm to handle accreditation for officials.

Rushman said his firm continued a long-standing relationship with the ICC that had seen it provide accreditation for cricket events around the world including at ICC Cricket World Cups in South Africa and England and two previous ICC Champions Trophy tournaments in England and Sri Lanka.

"We are also responsible for accreditation and other services at next year's ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies." The statement said Rushman's has a proven record of handling the process, having been involved with over 500 events in more than 30 countries, which included three IRB Rugby World Cups, the UEFA Euro 96 Soccer Championships, as well as many other sporting and non-sporting events.

Rushman said it was more complex to carry out the process in multi-venue international event such as the ICC Champions Trophy or World Cup as compared to bilateral series.

"Despite the complexities of the current operation, involving four venues over a limited time period, and despite many, many late requests for accreditation, Rushmans staff are acquitting themselves outstandingly well on the ground in India and the ICC has received much positive feedback from journalists, both local and international.

"It should be noted that the service being provided is at a significantly smaller cost than the one quoted by Mr. Shah in the Indian media," he added.