This caution comes against the backdrop of the organising body's decision to cancel match tickets being offered for resale on the auction website, eBay.

The move, says ICC CWC 2007 Commercial Manager, Stephen Price, is being taken "to protect the integrity of the Event and its pricing structure and policy for Ticketing, which was designed to be as fair as possible and to afford everyone who wishes to attend a match the chance to get a ticket".

Additionally, it is a strong message to persons who are engaging in black-market activity – either by selling or purchasing such tickets – which can be very damaging to any international event by creating the perception of price-gouging.

The resulting action by ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. means that all these tickets will be made null and void and are essentially worthless for admission to the intended matches. Subsequent removal of the tickets from the website does not negate the infringement.

"We have been monitoring the sale of match tickets on eBay and have had significant success in tracking the individuals who are offering these tickets and who are, as such, indulging in an illegal activity. ICC CWC 2007 is therefore exercising its legal right to cancel all these tickets," revealed Price.

He added that this cancellation policy will also apply to tickets being sold through unauthorised websites, such as www.globalticketservice.com and www.worldticketshop.com, which try to give the impression that they can provide valid tickets for ICC CWC 2007.

ICC CWC 2007 Senior Legal Counsel, Derek Jones, noted that since late August – when ticket applicants started receiving notification of which matches they had been allocated tickets for – there has been an increasing number of tickets and packages being offered for sale on websites like eBay.

"CWC has a legal obligation to protect the tournament’s integrity and this is a firm indication that the organisation will use the appropriate measures to do so," he said.

Jones also disclosed that tickets being used commercially, without authorisation from CWC 2007 Inc., for example as prizes in a competition or promotion or as part of an unofficial travel and/or hospitality package, can be made null and void as well. Therefore, anyone who buys or wins them would not be allowed entrance to a match venue.

Every ticket for ICC CWC 2007 matches, the lawyer stressed, is sold subject to the Ticket Terms & Conditions and each purchaser agrees to abide by them at the point of purchase.

"The ICC CWC 2007 Ticket Terms & Conditions expressly prohibit: the unauthorised resale or transfer of tickets; purchase from unauthorised agents and the unauthorised commercial use of tickets," Jones stated.

ICC CWC 2007 Ticket Terms & Conditions can be read in full at www.cricketworldcup.com.

Source: www.cricketworldcup.com