West Indies World Cup hosting under the microscope

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, is 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."