BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), Nov 28: The 2007 World Cup semifinals and final will be staged in three of the 14 countries which form an official part of West Indies cricket, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said Wednesday.

Chris Dehring, managing director of Windies World Cup 2007, said the policy had been incorporated into the planning of the tournament.

“This means that those three important matches, as far as the WICB are concerned, must be played in three of the 14 countries who are an official part of West Indies cricket,” Dehring told the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Responding to concerns that the United States, Cayman Islands or The Bahamas could be involved, Dehring stressed that the WICB could not treat the World Cup as its own.

“Windies World Cup 2007 has to be seen and appreciated as a global event that the West Indies has been given the privilege of hosting,” he said.

“There have been various expressions of concern when mention is made of the United States, Cayman Islands or The Bahamas as potential venues for the hosting of matches in 2007.

Dehring indicated that venue development officials would assist the WICB in assessing venues for the allocation of matches.