ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 mascot introduced as 'Stumpy'
Marking 200 days to go before the first ball rolled in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, the name of the mascot was unveiled in a simple but impressive ceremony in P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo on Monday before the third test between Sri Lanka and India.
The mascot, an elephant, has been named 'Stumpy' after a selection process in line with the proposals said the thousands of cricket fans worldwide. The lucky winner will receive a cricket bat signed by the quartet star Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar Indian and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara and Jayawardena Mahele, all of whom attended the launch of expressing their excitement for the main event.
Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat ICC said: "This is another milestone in preparation for our event star and it's great to see the game's best players like Mahendra Kumar, Sachin and Mahele looking forward to the ICC Cricket World Cup with enthusiasm.
"As the excitement builds over the next 200 days, we will see worldwide Renga cricket, promoting the event and generating enthusiasm. I am grateful to the thousands of cricket fans who showed their great passion for our sport and participated in the name of competition. I encourage all fans to start making plans to attend a spectacular event. "
With matches to be hosted by Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expects the World Cup in his homeland to be a career highlight.
He said: "It can not be larger than the ICC Cricket World Cup where the best of the best go with one goal - to bring home the cup that counts.
"It's not just my dream of being a winner of the Cricket World Cup, but it is the desire of each member of the India team to put his hand in the Cricket World Cup trophy. We will work as hard as possible to our dreams come true.
"This trophy has been avoiding for the past 27 years and I think we have a very good chance at home to break the drought."
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said winning the Cricket World Cup was his childhood dream.
"The Cricket World Cup is the pinnacle of all cricket competitions. Is that all teams and players want to win. I was very fortunate to see Sri Lanka win the tournament in 1996 and has been my ambition to win the Cup Cricket World since he started playing cricket, "he said.
"The World Cup means everything to us. It is the only item on the agenda all expected cricket and wants to win. We just have to make sure we understand what we are privileged to be in that position and carry the hopes and aspirations of so many people .
India's iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar can not wait for action to begin. He said: "The Cricket World Cup is the final competition for a limited overs cricket player, and that only happens once in four years. The cricket fraternity around the wait for this event and when it starts, all deeply involved.
"It feels totally different to be part of a World Cup Cricket in the atmosphere and the effect is very special and to be held in the sub-continent for the first time in 15 years is a great feeling."
ICC CWC 2011 Tournament Director Prof Shetty was in Colombo for the launch. He said that 200 days from the opening game, the plans in the three host countries were on track: "The preparations for the Cricket World Cup 2011 ICC are ongoing and I am happy with the progress we have been doing.
"Obviously, the arrangement of the stages is a key factor. The construction work is progressing well makes me confident that all stadiums will be ready later this year."
Stumpy was represented by a real life elephant at the launch in Colombo.
Monday, August 9, 2010
