Around 250,000 people are expected to visit Jerez, Spain and the surrounding area this weekend ahead of MotoGP's Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. The 250,000 expected visitors to the region are expected to include 120,000 at the race. The number "could increase with spectators at the practices and qualifiers on Friday and Saturday" (EFE, 4/19).
Pakistan Cricket Board Chair Shaharyar Khan said that recently crowned World Twenty20 champions the West Indies turned down a request from Pakistan to play matches in the country "due to security fears." Pakistan is due to host the West Indies in two Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals in September and October. The West Indies' refusal "came after a suicide bomber killed 73 people in a park in Lahore on Easter Sunday last month" (AP, 4/18).
Kent is in discussion with the England & Wales Cricket Board "with a view to lodging a formal complaint against Worcestershire after last week’s match at New Road was abandoned without a ball being bowled." There was "no play in the Specsavers County Championship second division game owing to an unfit outfield, despite the weather being dry and sunny for the majority of the game." Kent believes that there "should have been a contingency plan in place." There "are provisions in the regulations that allow for venues to be swapped but this option was not explored by Worcestershire." Kent's view is that "it would have been sensible to play the match at Canterbury and play the reverse fixture at New Road later in the season." Travelling Kent supporters "are also angered by Worcestershire’s refusal to give any ticket refunds" (LONDON TIMES, 4/19).
