Dehring allays World Cup fears

The organisers of next year’s World Cup have played down suggestions that the tournament’s stadia may not be ready by October’s deadline.

Chris Dehring - managing director and chief executive of ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc, the subsidiary of the West Indies Cricket Board charged with organising the World Cup - insists it is “full steam ahead”.

His comments come despite recent concerns regarding possible delays, chiefly to the renovation of Sabina Park in Jamaica.

However, Dehring admitted a contingency plan regarding the relocation of matches has been submitted to the International Cricket Council should the worst happen.

Dehring said: “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.

“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.”

A number of countries in the region have indicated they are on standby and willing to take on matches should other host venues not be ready.

The tournament gets under way in March next year, meaning the spotlight is fixed on progress at the 12 venues.

Dehring said: “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 timeframe set.”