TT get disappointing package

TRINIDAD and Tobago have been handed a disappointing package of six first round matches in the Cricket World Cup 2007. The announcement was made from the St Andrew Room, Ritz Carlton, Montego Bay in a radio-television hook-up last night. Trinidad and Tobago were handed the “Brown Package” which will feature four teams including World Cup runners-up India and three yet to be named qualifiers.

At the hotel to receive the package last night were Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes, his Permanent Secretary Errol Nesbitt and Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board president Ellis Lewis. Officials in TT were expecting to host the opening ceremony, first round group matches and a semi-final but were let down by the announcement last night. At the ceremony last night were Ehsan Mani, president of the International Cricket Council; Malcolm Speed, chief executive officer of the ICC; Teddy Griffith, president of the West Indies Cricket Board; Rawle Branker, chairman of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Incorporated; and Chris Dehring, managing-director and CEO of ICC CWC WI Inc. Barbados were handed the plum “Black Package”, meaning that the final of World Cup 2007 will be played at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

And Jamaican World Cup 2007 managing-director chief executive officer Chris Dehring announced the “Yellow Package” containing the opening ceremony, one semi-final and eight matches all told, in which the West Indies team will feature, will be hosted at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Other venues selected for World Cup 2007 matches include St Kitts, who will have the “Orange Package” announced by ex-West Indies Cricket Board president Rev Wes Hall. This package will feature a series of first round fixtures in which defending champions Australia will feature. Grenada were chosen for six Super Eight matches in the “Green Package”, which will be played at Queen’s Park Stadium. The second “Green Package” which will see eight teams competing in six matches went to Guyana, and was announced by Clive Lloyd, who led West Indies to the first-ever World Cup title in 1974 and repeated in 1978.

St Lucia were granted one semi-final in the “Blue Package” along with four first round matches, and will have England based there, when matches are played at the Beausejour Stadium. The “Red Package” for which many countries placed bids, went to Antigua, where three second round Super Eight matches will be played at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

The World Cup 2007 venue allocations: Preliminary Round — 
VENUE 1 (hosts West Indies’ matches, plus Opening Ceremony and Opening Match): Jamaica
VENUE 2 (hosts England’s matches): St Lucia
VENUE 3 (hosts India’s matches): Trinidad and Tobago
VENUE 4 (hosts Australia’s matches): St. Kitts & Nevis
Quarter-finals: VENUE 5 (hosts three of the biggest Super Eight matches): Antigua and Barbuda.
VENUE 6: Grenada; 
VENUE 7: Guyana; 
VENUE 8 (host three of the biggest Super Eight matches): Barbados
Semi-finals: Same as VENUE 1: Jamaica; Same as VENUE 2: St. Lucia
Final:  Same as VENUE 8: Barbados.