ROBERT Bryan has a clear vision of the “perfect” 2010 ICC World Twenty20 cricket Championship which begins on Friday in Guyana with West Indies facing Ireland and New Zealand up against Sri Lanka.

The tournament director wants to see “the television product showing stadiums filled with fans enjoying themselves, and that the cricket is organised and played in the way that it should be”.

A “bonus” for Bryan, who headed Jamaica’s Local Organising Committee when the Caribbean hosted the 50-50 ICC World Cup in 2007, would be for West Indies to win the upcoming event.

The extreme inconsistency of the West Indies team since the 1990s means many, if not most, West Indians are sceptical. But not Bryan, who is clearly among those who believe the Caribbean team does better at the shorter, more explosive version of cricket than in the traditional form.

“I think if there is ever a world tournament that the West Indies can win it has got to be Twenty20… it is a glorious opportunity and may represent one of those turning points for West Indies cricket…,” says an upbeat Bryan.

He is also acutely aware that in the eyes of Caribbean people, the perception of the tournament’s success will almost certainly parallel the fortunes of the West Indies team. He has painful memories of 2007 when after a confident start in the first round in Jamaica, the West Indies faded badly in the Super Eights stage.

“We’re urging the West Indies team to bring their ‘A’ game. That’s what is required. The team has to perform well; if they don’t, it is going to dampen the enthusiasm in the region,” says Bryan.

He, like the ICC, are also hopeful that Asian giants India and defending champions Pakistan, but more particularly the former, will also bring their “A game”.

Back in 2007, both were stunningly eliminated in the first round with catastrophic consequences for cricket’s global television interests who depend heavily on the hundreds of millions-strong Asian audiences.

Bryan believes the always powerful Australians, who surprisingly have done so badly in previous World twenty20s that they aren’t even a seeded team in the Caribbean, will also have a lot to prove.

He concedes that compared to 2007 when venues had to be built and there was a rush to get most things done, he and his “small” administrative team have had relatively little stress in the build-up to this tournament.

This time around, there are 12 men’s teams instead of 16 and four host countries — Guyana, St Kitts, St Lucia and Barbados — instead of nine, which has simplified logistics and the structure of the tournament “in terms of events”.

Bryan also argues that “the fact that the ICC is paying all the bills and it doesn’t involve the governments has resulted in a far simpler frame”.

In the build-up to the 2007 tournament, Caribbean governments had to fork out in excess of US$400 million to host the World Cup, with the bulk of the money going to building and renovating stadia. The Jamaican government, which failed to complete a bid to host the current tournament, spent well in excess of US$100 million for the ’07 World Cup.

The bulk of that money went to building the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium where an elaborate Opening Ceremony as well as warm-up games took place and a complete revamp of Jamaica’s headquarters of cricket, Sabina Park — venue for first-round games involving the West Indies as well as one semi-final.

The current agreement guarantees a return to Caribbean cricket’s governing body, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), “so nobody is stressed”, though Bryan declined to go into specifics.

In a bid to maximise attendance, ticket prices are “very low”, compared to 2007.

Ticket prices for this tournament range from the equivalent of US$5 for grounds and US$10 for stands in the opening round of games to US$20 for stand seats at the Super Eight stage and US$40 in the semi-finals and final.

Bryan recalls that back in ’07 the cheapest prices were US$20 and US$25.

“Compared to ’07 these tickets are almost free,” he quipped during a promotional swing through Kingston last month.

Responding to criticisms of ’07 that the tournament was hurt by prohibitions which discouraged spectator support because of the emphasis on security, organisers have been urging Caribbean spectators to bring their usual musical instruments etc to cricket. Hence the slogan ‘Bring it’.

But with the threat of terrorism always a consideration, security will remain tight.

Perhaps the biggest difference from 2007 for organisers is the presence of women’s teams, as was the case for the last championship in England.

Eight international women’s teams — West Indies, defending champions England, Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka — will compete in St Kitts, with tickets going for free before the top four teams join the men in St Lucia and Barbados for the semi-finals and final.

Bryan says the addition of women’s teams has not been a source of added pressure for organisers, especially given the experience of having done it in England a year ago.

A concern for organisers will be the quality of the pitches. Those that were on show in Trinidad, Guyana and St Vincent in late February/March for a limited-overs tour by Zimbabwe were not of a high standard.

Bryan admits playing surfaces are a worry. “It is something we definitely are focused on,” says Bryan.