By Tony Becca, Contributing Editor THE 2007 WORLD Cup will be staged in the West Indies and right now the main concern of the fans is where the matches will be played.
Almost every territory in the region is hoping to host matches - including some of the big games, and there is a lot of talk going the rounds about who should get what matches, how the venues should be decided, and who should decide on the venues.
According to Chris Dehring, managing director of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007, the fans, the people, simply do not understand what is involved and the obligations, the responsibilities of those territories that will host matches big or small.
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MATCHES
"We cannot just get up and award a match or matches to a venue," said Dehring on Sunday shortly before leaving for London and a meeting with the International Cricket Confer-ence. "The territories have to apply for what they want and even then there is more to it than that.
"There are different levels of matches, the ICC has set out some basic requirements for the different levels, these will be forwarded to the Prime Ministers of the respective territories, the territories will then decide what they can afford and then the members of the Venue Assessment Team (VAT) will look at the applications, advise as to who should get what, and then monitor the situation at intervals."
According to Dehring, the members of VAT will only provide technical information. The board members of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 all of whom are West Indians, will make the decision as to who gets what.
"The point is that the members of VAT are experienced people, people who have dealt with selecting venues for big international events and we need them to help us. We need them because, as some CARICOM leaders have said, the decision on venues should not be based on an arbitrary and unscientific assessment as is done for Test matches but on hard evidence as to which venues are better for the game."
Countries around the region have complained in the past that they deserve Test matches but have been ignored in favour of traditional venues and, according to Dehring, politics must be kept out of venue assessment for the World Cup and, after the applications are made, the input of independent assessors will guarantee that.
"What we are doing is this: based on ICC requirements, we are putting together a Bid Book, that book will set out the basic requirements for the different levels of matches based on what they can provide as far as stadiums, accommodation, etc., are concerned, based on what they can guarantee as far as security, electricity etc. are concerned, they will apply.
VAT TEAM
"The VAT team will talk with them to see if they can really deliver, the VAT team will advise us, we will decide, and the VAT team will follow up regularly to see if things are coming along as planned."
What about the cost?
"There will be a cost for those applying, but it will not be what people are saying it will be. The cost will depend on what they are applying for and we have to do that," said Dehring. "We have to do that because we need money to prepare for the tournament. What is important is that those who are not successful in their application will get back their money."
Another interesting part of the bid process is that all the territories hosting matches will have to sign a guarantee to deliver what they promise or pay if they fail to do so and it causes a loss.
"We cannot afford to fail. If one territory fails, all will suffer and we cannot afford that.
MONEY GUARANTEED
"Let me tell you something. In 2000, the ICC signed an agreement with Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) to look after the World Cup, that agreement guarantees the ICC a certain amount of money, and out of that the ICC guarantees the host country a certain amount of money.
"In that agreement, however, is also a clause whereby GCC can sue the ICC if anything goes wrong and it loses money and because of that the ICC also has an agreement with the host country that if it fails to deliver, if it falls down in any area and the ICC loses money, it has to make good that loss.
"We are many countries, so each one will have to sign a contract. We have to protect ourselves and in so doing protect each country. We cannot afford to make the countries that deliver suffer if one fails to deliver."
Will that affect the ability of some countries to bid?
"I do not know, but it won't be long before we know. The important thing is that because of what is required, it will be the countries, basically, that will decide what they get and what they do not get," Dehring said.
