Windies World Cup in trouble ?

[Donny]

Australia poised to rescue 2007 World Cup

Wisden Cricinfo

Amid growing concern over the ability of the West Indies authorities to stage the 2007 World Cup, rumours are circulating that Australia might be asked to step in and host the tournament.

The International Cricket Council meets in Barbados over the next two days and the issue of the 2007 World Cup is expected to be high on the agenda. A number of reports and newspaper articles in recent weeks have cast doubt on the assurances given by the organisers that the infrastructure will be in place in time. The poor standard of the facilities has caused the greatest worries, and although substantial investment is promised, there are doubts about the ability to raise the necessary finance in a region blighted by widespread poverty.

Officials from Cricket Australia (CA) have refused to comment ahead of the meeting, but Bob Merriman, chairman of CA, his believed to have spoken to state officials to warn of the fears regarding the situation in the Caribbean.

A representative of the New South Wales board revealed Merriman's comments in an interview published in the Sydney Morning Herald. "Bob said that there were growing concerns at ICC level about the West Indies holding the event," he told the newspaper. "The impression was given that Australia would be well placed to pick up the event should the West Indies not be able to. It's no surprise that people are worried about the West Indies holding the tournament, because of their financial worries and the general instability in the area."

[Joel]

Nice. Bring it over to Australia, I wouldn't mind going to the Cricket World Cup.

[Donny]

Griffith: 'We are confident we have the capacity to deliver'

Wisden Cricinfo staff

Teddy Griffith, president of the West Indies cricket board (WICB), has reacted to suggestions in the press that Australia might be asked to step in and host the 2007 World Cup because of concerns about the Caribbean's ability to stage the event.

An interview published in the Sydney Morning Herald with a representative of the New South Wales board revealed that Bob Merriman, chairman of Cricket Australia, had voiced his concern about West Indies' ability to host the World Cup, due to "their financial worries and the general instability in the area."

However, in a statement, Griffith replied by saying he had heard Merriman's comments, but had "not yet had an opportunity to meet with him," and claimed he was "in no position to say whether the comments attributed to him are accurate."

He added: "Indeed, the 2007 World Cup is an agenda item for discussion at the ICC meetings over the next two days and it would be disappointing if any fellow director were to seek to prejudice sentiment outside of the meetings.

"To the best of my knowledge, neither the ICC board nor IDI Ltd (ICC Development International) board has met since the June meetings in London and Monaco respectively, to discuss the matter. WICB is fully aware of the significant challenges that it faces in hosting the 2007 World Cup."

And he insisted they would be up to the task: "We are confident that as a nation we have the capacity to deliver on our obligations. We expect the fullest support and cooperation from all our fellow members of the ICC as we undertake our tasks."

[Donny]

Speed backs Windies for 2007
From correspondents in Barbados
November 5, 2003

INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed says he has every confidence in the West Indies' ability to host the 2007 World Cup and hit out at reports that Australia has been lined up as an alternative.

"We are required by our commercial partners and for insurance purposes to have a back-up – in South Africa we had a back-up and I think it was Australia and New Zealand," said Speed who arrived here along with ICC president Ehsan Mani on a tournament progress visit.

"I think it is important to say that no decision has been made by the ICC as to which country will be the back-up venue and any suggestion that it is Australia is quite premature and inappropriate.

"At a time in the future the ICC will meet and nominate a back-up venue. That has not occurred as to when that will be – somewhere around two years from the event but that has not been decided yet."

Mani told a brief press conference that the ICC has no concerns at this time about the West Indies' plans to host the World Cup noting that they will be there to help and pick up any problems.
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"Malcolm Speed says he has every confidence in the West Indies ...." I'm not sure we should have much confidence in you, Malcolm: "We are required by our commercial partners and for insurance purposes to have a back-up – in South Africa we had a back-up and I think it was Australia and New Zealand," said Speed

You THINK it was Australia and New Zealand !!?? You're the CEO of the ICC and you can't remember something as important as that, from less than a year ago ??

[commonwombat]

Donny,

Malcolm Speed, like David Richards and Malcolm Gray before him, was "moved upstairs" to the ICC. Your surmise would probably be correct, it would not have been because of his outstanding abilities.

Australia is now the paymaster of intl cricket in that it has the greatest financial resources and he who has the gold makes the rules. Therefore it is quite natural for them to pass on superannuated administrators on to a nice little sinecure on the ICC where they will provide a nice acquiescent voice. Let's face it, England did the same for years.

Sadly, it is debateable whether the West Indies can adequately stage a World Cup, sorry CC. Economics, poor communications, inadequate and run-down grounds as well as crossing numerous national jurisdictions are the key worries.

Giving it to Australia??? Certainly the Olympics and Rugby WC prove that we can handle the big events but memories of the 1992 job were that it wasn't the best run show on earth. Questions 1. will Fed and State govts support it, 2. will Aus try and host it by itself or do a co-host with NZ.