T&T Bids for WC but Misses Deadline

After initially saying it won't submit a bid for World Cup 2007 cricket matches, Trinidad & Tobago was among the list of countries vying to host the tournament even though the bid missed the 7:30 p.m deadline.

According to the WICB, offers from ten countries to host matches in the 2007 World Cup were received by PriceWaterhouseCoopers 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.

The World Cup host venues are scheduled to be announced on July 2 with the award of matches set for July 12 2004.