Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd. - FILE

BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

Former West Indies cricket captain, Clive Lloyd, believes the Caribbean will stage a spectacular Cricket World Cup later this year, but has urged organisers to ensure the event is executed properly.

Writing in The Economist, one of the world's leading business and financial newspapers, Lloyd underscored the importance of cricket to Caribbean people and the immense undertaking the Cricket World Cup presented.

Biggest Single Event

"It was quite a proud moment for me when the International Cricket Council awarded the 2007 World Cup to the West Indies," the legendary former West Indies captain wrote in the newspaper's edition entitled The World In 2007.

"It is undoubtedly the biggest single event ever hosted in the Caribbean and, in my view, it is the best thing to have happened to the Caribbean community in general, and to West Indies cricket in particular."

Lloyd, 62, had some of the finest moments of his career during the Cricket World Cup. He made a blazing century in the inaugural final in 1975 to beat Australia and four years later, led the Windies to victory over England in the final at Lord's

He led the West Indies during the halcyon days from 1975 to 1985.

"We (West Indies) will never get a second chance to make a first impression," Lloyd continued. "The journey to 2007 is well under way. It is extremely challenging, but it must be pursued purposefully and with all the creative energy. Failure is not an option for the West Indies in this exciting venture."

Six-part list

Lloyd listed a six-part list of activities which organisers needed to ensure they fulfilled. He noted there needed to be state-of-the-art stadiums, enough fully equipped hotel rooms, vehicles in mint condition to transport visitors, tight security at venues, shopping areas and areas of social activity, a hassle-free process through customs and immigration and fully equipped medical facilities.

In his brilliant cricket career, Lloyd played 110 Tests and 87 One-Day Internationals. In Tests he made 7,515 runs and another 1,977 in the shorter version.

At present, he is the chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board's cricket committee and also a match referee with the International Cricket Council.

"The stakes are high," Lloyd noted. "The short-term gain for a successful 2007 Cricket World Cup will be a massive financial windfall for the Caribbean. The long-term benefits for the region and for West Indies cricket are even greater."