Cricket: Rocket warning issued to fans

WORLD CUP organisers yesterday warned supporters that they would be thrown out of Sunday's final if they let off fireworks at Lord's.

Exuberant Pakistani fans celebrated their team's win over New Zealand in Wednesday's semi-final at Old Trafford by setting off rockets during and after the game. The World Cup events manager, Michael Browning, said: "Fireworks are prohibited. If anyone lets off a firework, they will be evicted from the ground."

Large numbers of fanatical Pakistan supporters, many blowing hooters or whistles, created an effervescent atmosphere in the Manchester match but there was trouble just before the end of the match when a pitch invasion held up play. Browning said he did not expect there to be such a large contingent of fans from either Pakistan or Australia at cricket's headquarters on Sunday because tickets were sold out a year ago. "I don't believe there will be a huge number of fans from one particular team," he said. "The spectator profile will be different to other grounds. But we always take security very seriously."

The capacity at Lord's is around 30,000 and Browning said he would be surprised if many tickets changed hands because people who had bought them would still plan to go, even if their team had not won through to the final.

"World Cup final tickets are like gold dust," he said.

The Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, said he did not believe the crowd was a major problem at Old Trafford although he added: "I think they got a bit too excited."

One of Wasim's predecessors, Hanif Mohammad, yesterday warned Pakistan against complacency but backed his nation to win the World Cup. "Looking back at their performance, I think only one team can beat Pakistan and that is Pakistan. Complacency will be their biggest enemy," Hanif said.

Intikhab Alam, manager of the 1992 World Cup-winning team, said that he had high hopes but emphasised that a lot of work still had to be done.

"Extras have to be curtailed," he said. "It was criminal to concede 47 extras against New Zealand. The fielding and running between the wickets has to be improved."