MCG to host 2015 Cricket World Cup final after 23 years

The Melbourne Cricket Ground has been announced as the host for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup final, edging out Sydney for the honour of hosting the tournament's showpiece.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the MCG will again stage the World Cup final, 23 years after more than 87,000 fans poured into the ground to watch Imran Khan's Pakistan defeat England in 1992.

The report further said that the MCG had come under challenge from Sydney due to fears the technology available in the media centre did not comply with ICC standards for a World Cup venue.

However, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said that the World Cup finale would put the squeeze on the city as it coincided with the Melbourne Grand Prix, adding that this year, the final day of the GP saw 100,000 spectators flock to the circuit.

Doyle further said that he would have preferred to see both the tournaments spread over two different weekends.

Meanwhile, Cricket New South Wales (NSW) had hoped that the ANZ Stadium would provide a viable alternative to the MCG, particularly after attracting a crowd of nearly 60,000 for a Twenty20 international featuring Australia and India early last year.

However, Sydney's SCG, which will have an increased capacity of 48,000 when the 186 million-dollar redevelopment is completed, has edged out ANZ as the venue for one semi-final despite the western Sydney ground proving itself as a suitable international host over the last two summers.

The 2015 World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand and include 49 matches over 44 days in February and March, the report added.