Journalists covering World Cup matches at Sabina Park are fuming after being asked to pay up to US$60 a day for a broadband connection.

Most major international venues now offer free internet access to reporters who need to be able to access the web to file reports and keep in touch with their offices. Those that do charge usually levy a nominal fee - for example, the hosts asked for US$6 during the recent Champions Trophy. It was expected that the organisers of the World Cup would offer such a facility as a matter of course.

But Cable & Wireless, an official tournament sponsor, appear to be milking the media box for all it is worth. They have asked for a $50 set-up fee for anyone wanting internet access, and then a weekly fee of between US$99 and US$360 or a monthly fee of US$199 to US$720, depending on the speed of the connection.

[...]It also emerged that although journalists are being asked to pay by the week or month, there will be no service available on non-match days.