BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

SOUTH AFRICAN team manager Goolam Rajah has given the Caribbean's preparations for next year's Cricket World Cup a high vote of confidence.

And the experienced cricket official has contended that the region is far ahead of where South Africa was at this stage, when they hosted the tournament in 2003.

"We also have to take it within the realities of six months prior in South Africa to today. You did not have the luxury of having stadiums already," Rajah said while in Barbados recently to attend a CWC managers meeting.

"If you take South Africa, we didn't have to build a single stadium. We just hit a few bricks and mortar in the existing structure. Without sounding big-headed, South African stadiums were ready two, three years before the actual tournament. I think in real terms you have achieved much more."

Feedback

He continued: "When we had a similar meeting like this in South Africa, the manager's meeting, we gave a certain amount of feedback to managers. We had a very good meeting, but when I compare to what we were fed in terms of information at this meeting, you are certainly ahead."

The Caribbean's preparations to host the Cricket World Cup are being intensified, with just six months left until the event bowls off on March 13.

Many of the new stadia built to host matches during the tournament are near completion and an International Cricket Council venue assessment team is expected to carry out a final inspection in November to make a final determination on the venues.

Last Friday, team managers were given a tour of the Kensington Oval venue, which will host second stage Super Eight games along with the final on April 28. The Oval, which is also nearing completion, came in for high praise from Rajah, and Scotland's manager, Euan McIntyre.

"I must say, I was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised. I never in my wildest [dreams] thought of where you guys would be right now in terms of that stadium (Kensington Oval) and every other stadium that we saw in the slides," Rajah said.

Pinch

"But this particular Kensington Oval, I can vividly picture the old stadium and I had to pinch myself to say "is this the new stadium." It's an absolute superb effort. I think everyone involved in West Indies cricket and in particular, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, I think the local people can be very proud of what you guys have achieved.

"From humble beginnings, and you have now come to a situation where you've got stadia as good as anywhere else in the world in terms of cricket, then I think it is time for you to take a deep breath and pat your back because you guys deserve every accolade that comes your way."

McIntyre added: "I was very impressed. The last time I was there was February 1981. I played there on a club tour and I've laid in my bed for 25 years thinking of that, so I remembered it in the old way.

"It is a magnificent stadium, the players dressing room area is state-of-the-art and it's very impressive indeed."