The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has deployed spray teams to wipe out mosquitoes at the city’s two stadiums, which will host the opening ceremony and six World Cup matches.
“Mosquitoes have been breeding alarmingly in recent months so we have taken special measures to get rid of them,” said health chief Brigadier General Nasiruddin. “We want to ensure a mosquito-free World Cup for spectators.”
He said areas near hotels used by teams and supporters will also be sprayed. Malaria is usually restricted to rural areas of Bangladesh, but dengue fever is common in towns.
After the opening ceremony that takes place in Dhaka on February 17, the action begins with the hosts facing India in the city on February 19.
The World Cup is the biggest event that Bangladesh has hosted since its independence in 1971.
Authorities have already evicted hawkers and beggars, forced worn-out buses off the roads and banned laundry from being hung out near stadiums to improve Dhaka’s image.
Sarwan dismisses doubters
Meanwhile, recalled West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan declared that his side was determined to silence critics who have predicted an embarrassing World Cup flop.
“We’re not too concerned about what people say,” the 30-year-old told reporters in Colombo after a team practice session. “We are focused on what we have to do, and that is to play well as a team, and if we do that everything will take care of itself.”
The experienced Sarwan notched a match-wining 123 to guide the West Indies to a comfortable 61-run victory in a warm-up match against Kenya on Saturday after losing four early wickets.
They now take on Sri Lanka in their last warm-up match on Tuesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2011.
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