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

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."