Cricket World Cup: South Asian frenzy (and dour Scots) down under

Cricket World Cup 2015: 14 countries prepare for a month-long tournament for glory

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14 countries will play in Australia and New Zealand in a tournament that will be viewed by millions of fans around the world.

By A. Odysseus Patrick February 13

SYDNEY — They are two of the world’s most bitter rivals. Both armed with nuclear weapons, they share a tense border and a history of religious conflict.
So when Pakistan and India meet for their first game in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in the sleepy Australian city of Adelaide on Sunday, their teams will be representing far more than cricket. National reputations are at stake.
With more international events than ever vying for the attention of sports fans, cricket authorities and commercial interests are relying on historical rivalries to give the World Cup an outsize impact on television ratings and boost attendance at cricket grounds across Australia and New Zealand, which are co-hosting the event.
The Pakistan-India game is likely to be the most-watched cricket match in history, said James Sutherland, the head of Cricket Australia, the sport’s governing body in the country.
“There will be literally billions watching on TV for this India-
Pakistan match, and we understand that 80 percent of the crowd are actually going to be people from outside South Australia,” Sutherland recently told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to the state where the game will be held.