|
|
|
| September 22, 2006 | Friday | Sha'aban 28, 1427 |
Lara stadium scrapped as World Cup venue
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Sept 21: Cricket World Cup (CWC) officials have insisted that preparations for next year's tournament are on track despite being forced to look at alternative venues because the Brian Lara Stadium will not be ready in time.
The stadium in southern Trinidad had been scheduled to host warm-up matches for Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa and Canada ahead of the tournament which gets underway on March 11.
Those fixtures will now be played elsewhere after World Cup managing director Chris Dehring confirmed inspectors decided the stadium would not be finished in time.
“With less than six months to the start of the tournament ICC Cricket World Cup is very satisfied that the matter has been deliberated thoroughly, and a final decision for the good of the tournament has been taken,” Dehring said.
“It certainly validates the monitoring process which is in place and shows that CWC has the situation under control.
“The message to the cricketing world therefore, is that come what may, we are preparing to welcome fans from around the globe to a memorable event and, notwithstanding the odd bump or two, the Cricket World Cup train is building a powerful head of steam and is very much on track.”
CWC Venue Development Director, Donald Lockerbie, credited their ‘stringent monitoring programme’ with a thorough assessment.
“Earlier this year, other stadia (Sabina Park in Jamaica and Grenada National Stadium) were considerably behind in their construction schedules but, under careful monitoring, they are now on track,” he said.
“Through ongoing monitoring and open communication channels there is full buy-in from all stakeholders involved with the tournament and 100 per cent awareness that we must deliver a world-class event.”
Dehring confirmed the final decision that was handed down after a two-week extension, adding that either Guaracara Park or the Sir Frank Worrell Ground in St Augustine will replace the ‘Lara’, part of the PNM's planned $850 million elite sports complex in Tarouba.
The final fate of the problematic Brian Lara Stadium, several months behind schedule and beset by delays caused by inclement weather and the tardy delivery of steel to the site, confirmed doubts that had arisen several months earlier about the ability of the contractors to meet key ICC deadlines.
In what was to be his definitive visit two weeks ago, Lockerbie, along with ICC and Global Cricket Corporation inspectors, decided to give his officials a two-week grace period to review a belatedly re-arranged schedule for completion of the troubled ground.
Dehring said Cricket World Cup 2007 Inc had viewed the proposed replacement venues and was ‘comfortable with either of the proposed venues’.
On receiving the final recommendation from the local organising committee, the ICC CWC 2007 Inc will take the request to the ICC to ask for approval. This process is to be finalised by November. —Agencies
|
|
|
|
