KINGSTON (CMC):WORLD CUP 2007 boss Chris Dehring is dismissing suggestions that some grounds scheduled to host matches in Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 in the Caribbean will not be ready on time.
Speaking from Grenada Thursday, Dehring, managing director and CEO of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc., stated that the current status for all stadia across the region is "full steam ahead".
He noted that the nine host venues are all currently focused on ensuring that the stadia are ready for an October deadline and he sought to dispel any report that this was not the case.
"It is full steam ahead across the region, everyone is moving forward as planned. Of course we have a back-up plan in place and it is currently being reviewed by the ICC. That plan will only be implemented if absolutely necessary," he said, addressing the relocation issue.
"At present, there is no one country that is being earmarked to 'take' matches currently assigned to another host venue. If a decision were to be taken to relocate matches from one Host Venue to another, it could only be taken by ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. This is not a decision that can be made by anyone outside of CWC," Dehring stated in an ICC CWC West Indies 2007 Inc., press release.
ON STANDBY
A number of countries in the region have indicated that they are on standby and willing to take on matches should other host venues not be ready.
Dehring added that while "this spirit of cooperation" was "critical to the overall success of the tournament, at this time every country is expected to meet its obligation to host matches".
"Each host venue is working not only on the completion of their stadia but on all the other infrastructural elements required to support the hosting of the tournament. We have just over 300 days to go, including weekends and public holidays, and everyone concerned is working assiduously to ensure that no time is lost."
Given that 300-plus days remain until the first ball of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 is bowled, the spotlight is fixed on all 12 venues being upgraded or constructed for the tournament and their respective states of readiness.
CLEAR UNDERSTANDING
Dehring elaborated on the situation stating that: "At this point in time, we at ICC CWC 2007 Inc. have a clear understanding of where each country is in their stadium development, and I expect that each one of them will indeed be complete within the time frame set."
While Jamaica recently confirmed that it had encountered some delays based on cement shortages on the island, a revised critical path of completion has now been submitted by the contractors and is under review by the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Warner Park in St. Kitts is on the verge of completion and will shortly be formally handed over to the St Kitts & Nevis LOC.
In Antigua, the most recent phase of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium has just been completed - 22 days ahead of schedule. The contractors aim to build on that momentum to ensure that the stadium is completed well within the prescribed deadline.
Guyana's Providence Stadium is also progressing at a pace and is scheduled for completion by the October 2006 deadline.
Concerns have grown after contractors at Sabina Park admitted that there were serious delays in the ground's rebuild, but Dehring said that it was "full steam ahead", adding that a contingency plan had been submitted to the ICC in case there were any last-minute problems.
