Press Trust of India reported that two fire officials made a visit Wednesday to the city's Wankhede Stadium, which is due to stage the event's April 2 decider among other games, and found it lacked some safety facilities. PTI said local fire chief Uday Tatkare would write to the Mumbai Cricket Association about the matter.
But tournament director Ratnakar Shetty, who is also the treasurer of the MCA, said by phone that there were no problems with the stadium.
“The claims are untrue, Shetty said. “At this moment I don't know what is being said about the safety norms and standards, but we have taken every aspect into account and all norms have been met with.
“In fact the fire department is scheduled to visit the Wankhede Stadium on Monday and we are waiting for that. We are very sure that once the inspection is done, we will have all the necessary clearances.” PTI's report quoted fire chief Tatkare as saying the newly renovated stadium, which will host three games at the six-week tournament, had “many loopholes” in its fire safety readiness.
Fire hydrants, no-smoking indicators, fire alarms and extinguishers all still had to be installed, Tatkare said, according to PTI.
Other tournament officials also stressed there were no concerns with fire safety at Wankhede Stadium and confirmed the inspection would be carried out next week.
The World Cup begins Saturday but the first game at Wankhede - between Canada and New Zealand - is not until Mar. 13.
The Mumbai Cricket Association announced Thursday that Wankhede Stadium had been approved by the International Cricket Council to stage World Cup matches following nearly three years of redevelopment work.
In Colombo, alcohol and musical instruments have been banned from Sri Lanka's World Cup stadiums as part of a security plan in the co-host nation, police said Friday.
Police chief Mahinda Balasuriya said that drunken spectators or anyone carrying any alcohol will not be allowed entry to grounds.
Police and military personnel will frisk everyone who enters the ground.
Sharp instruments, glass bottles, cans, firecrackers and smoke bombs are also not permitted, he said.
"This is the largest sporting event hosted by Sri Lanka in recent years, we'll assure you the best security," Balasuriya said.
Banners and placards will be permitted, though any with offensive slogans will not be allowed, while national flags other that the countries playing in a match will also be removed.
In Dhaka, ICC chief Haroon Lorgat defended on Friday the ruling body's decision to cut the number of World Cup teams from 14 to 10 in the 2015 edition, saying smaller countries would do better in a less-skillful Twenty20 format.
The International Cricket Council, which decided on the team reduction last year, has faced criticism for a move which is set to exclude the likes of non-Test playing nations Kenya, Ireland and Netherlands from the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
ICC chief executive Lorgat told a news conference that 50-over cricket was "more skill-based" and that the world body wanted to spread the game through the Twenty20 format instead.
"We felt in the past few years that Twenty20 is the format best disposed to develop the game and provides a better environment for competition," Lorgat said.
In Washington, the United States on Thursday urged its citizens to be extra vigilant about terror risks if they are in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during the cricket World Cup.
"While the US government has no specific threat information regarding the Cricket World Cup, large, high-profile events of this nature can be targets for terrorist attacks," the State Department warned.
It advised Americans planning to visit the three countries during the World Cup to consult the State Department's travel website for country specific information. "Travelers should pay particular attention at this time to the information on safety and security, crime, scams, traffic safety, and road conditions," the State Department said.
"US citizens should maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security," it added.
In Fatullah, Bangladesh: England's Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood finally found some much-needed form as Pakistan were brushed aside by 67 runs in the final warm-up before the Cricket World Cup starts on Saturday.
Pietersen, in an unaccustomed role as opener, hit 66 from 78 balls and Collingwood chipped in with 65 as England were all out for 273 on Friday. Pakistan struggled early in response with Stuart Broad again England's spearhead with the ball taking care of the first four batsmen in the order.
Broad, who rejoined the England party after missing much of the Australian tour with an abdominal injury, finished with five wickets including the key scalp of Younis Khan, caught behind for 80. Pakistan were all out for 206 in the 47th over.
The Pakistan all-rounder and captain Shahid Afridi did not play.
In Dhaka, cricket fans watched in wonder as giant television screens were being erected across Dhaka in preparation for Bangladesh's opening World Cup showdown with fellow co-hosts India on Saturday.
Excited children gaped as workers hammered away furiously to put the finishing touches to one of the 14 screens being put up at a city intersection in the impoverished Bangladeshi capital.
Locals who were unable to get their hands on tickets in the cricket-crazy nation will see World Cup matches on 6 x 6 meter screens for the first time after city authorities decided to telecast all 49 matches to the masses.
Officials were confident the live telecast on the huge screens will bring fans, enthusiasts and poorer sections of the 12-million strong community together for the Feb 19-April 2 cricket fiesta.
In Mumbai, an anonymous gambler has struck an 82,000 pounds ($132,300) bet with a London bookmaker on India winning the Cricket World Cup, one of the biggest ever laid in the one-day game.
If the co-hosts and 3-1 favorites triumph in the April 2 final in Mumbai, the punter will collect 246,000 pounds ($396,900), Ladbrokes said.
"It's one of the biggest bets we've ever laid in the one day format and we've even more reason now to fear an India win," said a spokesman for the company.
The tournament starts on Saturday when India, who lost in the first round four years ago in the Caribbean, play Bangladesh in Dhaka.
