NEW DELHI, Oct 31: World cricket’s governing body is fully convinced of the West Indies’ ability to host the 2007 World Cup, the International Cricket Council said on Friday.

Recent media reports that Australia were on standby to take over as hosts following concerns about preparations in the Caribbean were mere speculation, ICC president Ehsan Mani said.

“I want to emphasise strongly that it will be held in the West Indies,” he told a teleconference from Barbados at the end of a two-day ICC executive board meeting.

Mani said the ICC would next week sign the host country agreement with the West Indies cricket board.

“The governments of the islands are going to be making a huge investment in infrastructure... there will be a close partnership between the ICC and the West Indies board.”

The ICC board has ratified the decision to have 16 teams for the World Cup, but logistics would be studied before finalising the format.

The ICC also decided to set up a panel of security consultants to try and prevent last-minute pullouts by touring sides over security concerns.—Reuters