CARICOM'S decision to institute a special visa requirement on some countries planning to attend next year's International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup has seemingly angered many affected fans around the world, chief among them the Australians.

The Sydney Morning Herald, reported yesterday that the travel plans of some 7,000 cricket fans hoping to visit the Caribbean have been thrown into disarray following the announcement that they must pay $US100 for a special CARICOM visa required to enter the region.

"Australians and New Zealanders have been singled out for the visa, but the British, South Africans and even people from non-cricketing nations such as Japan and Italy do not need one," the article said.

The story quoted a sales and product development manager at a travel agency that has booked over 500 people as saying "we feel Australians are being discriminated against."

Meanwhile, general manager of public affairs for Cricket Australia, Peter Young, said the Federal Government contacted his organisation to express its concerns about the delay in securing visas for fans last week. "It's an issue we might need to raise with the International Cricket Council," he is reported to have said.

List finalised

Last week, CARICOM finalised the list of countries whose citizens will need visas to enter the Caribbean. Indians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans are among the countries whose citizens will need the special visa.

Mia Mottley, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados and chairperson for the Caribbean Community Sub-Committee for CWC 2007 security, has said the visa requirement underscores CARICOM 's intent to make the tournament safe.

"In the Caribbean, it may be considered that we are not at risk for acts of terrorism. However, the reality dictates that we take every step to ensure that we provide a secure environment for the staging of Cricket World Cup," she was quoted in the Barbados Advocate to have said.

Nationals of most countries require the CARICOM Special Visa to enter the Single Domestic Space during the period January 15 to May 15, 2007. Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, South Africa, Spain, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States do not require a visa to enter CARICOM'S single space.