From correspondents in Delhi, India, 07:37 PM IST

Failed to get tickets for the ICC Cricket World Cup final? Take heart. Tickets are still available.

Over 2,200 tickets for the World Cup final to be held at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, April 28 will go on sale Friday online and in the official ticket centres at the nine host venues in the West Indies, according to an ICC Cricket World Cup press release.

As in the case of additional semifinal tickets, which were recently made available after a number of them were returned from various contractual obligations to the event's commercial partners, these are being made available to the general public through the same avenue.

'Once again, some of our sponsors have not exercised their full option on tickets for the final and CWC (Cricket World Cup) has received returns for the final in various categories,' CWC commercial director, Stephen Price, stated in the release, while pointing out that at some world games, sponsors were not thoughtful enough to return unused tickets for possible sale, thereby resulting in large blocks of empty seats on various occasions.

'This will not be the case at this Cricket World Cup as we have been working closely with our commercial partners to ensure that these seats - some the best in the tournament - reach the public,' he said.

'There was excessive demand for the final and we are sure that cricket fans will appreciate this golden opportunity to get their hands on these much sought after tickets for the biggest tournament match,' Price added.

In all, 600 tickets in Category 1, 1,600 in Category 2 and a small number in Category 3 will be available for sale, according to the release.

These will go on sale simultaneously at the ticket centres as well as online (www.cricketworldcup.com) at 10.30 am Eastern Caribbean time Friday (8 pm India time).

While persons who have not previously bought any CWC tickets will now be eligible to buy tickets for the final, there will still be a maximum limit of four per person, the release stated, adding that these tickets will be sold strictly on a 'first-come-first-serve' basis.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)