The time has arrived for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh: a first for Bangladesh.
The tournament begins with the opening ceremony this Thursday (17 February 2011) at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the first game is in Mirpur, Dhaka on Saturday (19 February).
SABC 3 will be airing all of the matches played by South Africa (live), as well as various other games.
Here's everything you need to know about the schedule of matches, the on-air presenters and important schedule changes on the channel:
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Please note: the changes take place for the duration of the Cup: from Monday, 21 February to Saturday, 2 April 2011.
Days Of Our Lives moves from SABC3 to SABC2. It will on SABC2 Mondays to Fridays, at 16h30.
All My Children goes on hiatus.
Oprah moves to 21h30 instead of 17h35, with a repeat at 00h30. It won't be on on Fridays, only Mondays to Thursdays.
Isidingo moves to 19h30 daily, instead of 18h30.
On days where there isn't a match in progress in the 18h00 to 19h00 timeslot: 3Talk will be on, featuring cricket specials.
The news remains at it's regular time of 19h00.
A delayed broadcast of the opening ceremony airs on Saturday morning (19 February) at 09h30. It replaces the rebroadcast of
(TV)5.
LIVE MATCHES BROADCAST SCHEDULE
ON-AIR PRESENTING TEAM
David O’Sullivan
David O’Sullivan is a well known radio and television personality and over the years has presented many major sporting events for SABC Sport. O’Sullivan’s knowledge and credible demeanour on air makes him one of the stand out anchors in South African sport.
Ray Jennings
Ray Jennings is a former South African wicketkeeper and has also coached the Proteas.
Popularly known for his high standards of discipline in the cricketing world, Jennings is respected after guiding the SA Under 19 team to World Cup victory in 2008 while he is coach of IPL side the Royal Challengers
Bangalore.
Victor Mpitsang
Victor Mpitsang is the youngest debutant to play for the Proteas at the tender age of 18 and currently plays his trade for Bloemfontein based franchise the Knights.
Mpitsang has only played two ODI’s for the Proteas but is amongst the many national team players to have at come out of Grey College in Bloemfontein.
Hussein Manack
Hussein Manack is a former Gauteng Cricket Board contracted player who played in over 52 fi rst class matches as a Right Hand Batsman and Right arm medium bowler.
He notched up 3 centuries and 11 half centuries in a cricket career where he represented three sides namely; Easterns, Gauteng and Transvaal.
His passion for cricket combined with his creative inclination having worked 20 years in the fast paced world of marketing and advertising, Manack is indeed a dynamic character.
Lance Klusener
Famously known as Zulu for his proficiency in speaking the language, Lance Klusener was like a Zulu warrior with bat in hand when he played for the Proteas.
One of the most aggressive batsman of his generation, Klusener smashed 3576 runs in his 171 ODI matches with an impressive average of 41.10.
Klusener made his Test debut in 1996 against India and went on to play 49 Tests for South Africa.
Neil Johnson
Neil Johnson is a former Zimbabwe international having played in 13 Tests and 48 ODI’s.
Johnson played in the 1999 World Cup where his all round skills helped Zimbabwe progress through to the Super 6 stage.
Johnson also won three Man-of-the-match Awards at the tournament with one of those awards coming against South Africa.
Coming soon: the schedule on DStv's Supersport.