Barbados has won the right to host the championship game at the 2007 World Cup.
The tiny Caribbean island was awarded the prestigious 'Black Package' during a swanky ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, which means that the World Cup final -and six quarter-final matches will be played at the refurbished Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Of the six quarter-final matches, Barbados gets three of what was described as the "largest" second-round games.
The 'Yellow Package', widely considered the best package on offer, was awarded to Jamaica, meaning the West Indies team will play all its first-round matches at Sabina Park in Kingston.
Jamaica also gets to host the opening ceremony and one of the two semi-final matches.
St Lucia scored a major coup with 'Blue Package', which consists of all of England's first-round matches and one semi-final. It means that the top-class Beausejour facility gets the anchor team with the largest following of fans, which translates to a major economic boost for the island.
A brand-new stadium in Antigua will host the 'Red Package', which consists of six of the best quarter-final games.
Guyana, which is also building a new facility, got one of the 'Green' Packages (six quarter-final games) while Grenada got the other.
The big loser was Trinidad & Tobago, which got the 'Brown Package' of first round matches involving India. Trinidad & Tobago, which has one of the biggest facilities in the Caribbean, was late in submitting its World Cup bid and there is speculation that the reluctance to participate in the bidding process went against the twin-island republic.
AWARD OF MATCHES:
BARBADOS: Black Package - The World Cup final and six quarter-final matches at Kensington Oval.
JAMAICA: Yellow Package - Opening ceremony and opening match at Sabina Park. First-round matches involving the West Indies and one semi-final match.
ST LUCIA: Blue Package - First-round matches of group anchored by England; One semi-final game, all to be played at Beausejour.
ANTIGUA: Red Package - Six of the 'big' quarter- final matches at a new stadium.
GUYANA: Green One - Six quarter-final games in a new stadium with a capacity exceeding 15,000.
GRENADA: Green Two - six quarter-final matches at the National Cricket Stadium, formerly Queen's Park.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Brown Package - First- round matches at Queen's Park Oval with the group anchored by India.
ST KITTS: Orange Package - First-round matches at Warner Park of group anchored by defending champions Australia. (Caribbeancruicket.com)