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In a short interview carried in the BCCI's newly launched quarterly newsletter, Manohar said, "all the venues are expected to fulfill the requirements pertaining to spectator facilities, media facilities and, of course, quality wickets and outfield."

Pointing out that former BCCI Chief I S Bindra is heading the Infrastructure Committee, Manohar added, "the BCCI has centrally procured modern ground maintenance equipment and has advised the venues to go in for the sprinkler system".

"The Board will be monitoring the preparations constantly," he emphasised.

The mega event is to be hosted jointly by the four countries of the Indian sub-continent - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Looking forward towards his forthcoming stint as BCCI chief after taking over the reins from president Sharad Pawar, Manohar said that he would continue to carry on in the footsteps of the Union Agriculture minister "who has given the Board a new dimension".

Manohar said that the younger lot of cricketers who clinched the World Twenty20 Cup in South Africa under the captaincy of Mahendra Dhoni have shown that Indian cricket was "alive and kicking".

Manohar was optimistic that the new crop of players would keep the country's flag flying high even after the top players like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly call it a day.

"We have the players who can carry the mantle when the greats retire," he said.

Manohar also sounded upbeat about the revamped National Cricket Academy at Bangalore, with Dav Whatmore as the director of its cricket operations, and the domestic cricket, including junior cricket structure which he felt was "undoubtedly the best in the world".

"The National Cricket Academy has been reorganised and we now have a full-time cricket operations director in Dav Whatmore. He is being assisted by an excellent support-staff.

"We are in a position to give the fringe playes, who constitute the 'bench-strength', opportunities to train and be in readiness at all times," he added