Offers from ten countries to host matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup W.I. 2007 Inc. (CWC 2007) were received by Price Waterhouse Coopers in Barbados yesterday by the deadline of 7:30 p.m. An eleventh submission was also received from Trinidad & Tobago at 8:55 p.m.
The countries making submissions were Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States. No individual submission was received from the Bahamas, the only other country that had indicated their intention to host matches in 2007. A minimum of eight (8) cricket stadia are required to stage the event.
All elements of the submissions including time of delivery, completeness and content will now be considered by the Venue Assessment Team (VAT), comprising an independent group of world games experts headed by the global sports marketing company, IMG.
The VAT, alongside representatives of the ICC and CWC 2007, will also visit each bidding country between May 24 and June 7 to inspect the facilities and clarify elements of the bid submissions. The VAT will then make their recommendations based solely on technical merit to the board of directors of CWC 2007 who will decide the host venues and match awards, subject to the approval of the ICC.
Managing Director of CWC 2007 Chris Dehring expressed delight at the response. "We are extremely pleased that so many countries have made themselves available to share with the WICB and CWC 2007, the responsibility of hosting this mammoth event. This response by the cricket associations and their respective Governments gives us tremendous confidence to collectively stage a successful Cricket World Cup in 2007."
President of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ehsan Mani was equally impressed by the support from countries in the region. "The ICC strongly supports the diligent approach and selection process that CWC 2007 has implemented, which is a fair and transparent one used with success in other major sporting events. The responses from so many countries in the Caribbean and the USA augur well for the organizers and we look forward to the next stage when the submissions are assessed and matches awarded."
Rawle Brancker, chairman of the board of directors of CWC 2007 expressed his appreciation for the work undertaken by the countries. "The hard work that countries have put in to respond to the very challenging ICC CWC 2007 bid book will go a far way to prepare the countries individually, and collectively as a region to host the event whichever venues are finally selected. I congratulate all who participated because you have demonstrated a willingness to adhere to process, procedure and timelines which is paramount if we are to successfully stage the 2007 Cricket World Cup."
The Cricket World Cup host venues are scheduled to be announced on July 2 with the award of matches set for July 12 2004.