ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: The Chief Executive of International Cricket Council, Malcolm Speed, says the West Indies were chosen as the hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 because they had “earned the right to run the event”.

He was speaking at a Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the headquarters of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. in Kingston, Jamaica, according to a report available here on Friday.

Speed noted that the West Indies deserved to host what is, the third largest sporting event in the world because of “its hard work, great performance on the cricket field and proving to the rest of the cricket world that you have the ability, as administrators, to run one of the world’s major sporting events”.

“World cricket is looking forward to this event, there are many people around the world who are planning now to come to the Caribbean in 2007. It will be a great event. The ICC has a great deal of faith in the cricket administrators, cricket supporters, governments throughout the West Indies to run this event in 2007,” Speed added.

“We’ve got a great deal of faith that in partnership with the other cricketing countries, with ICC, that in 2007 you’ll put on a world class event that will have a unique Caribbean flavour”.

While noting that an ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies “will be different, unique, and run across a number of islands ... seven or eight... Speed acknowledged that there would be some logistical difficulties.

“There were easier places that the ICC could have chosen to run this World Cup. We haven’t chosen those options, we have chosen the West Indies because ... you’ve earned the right to run this event,” the Chief Executive added.

In his address, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government for CARICOM, P.J. Patterson said his government expected that the cornerstone laying would provide “a good foundation and platform for the preparation of this tournament and the fulfillment of the high expectations of not only Jamaica, but the rest of the West Indies and indeed, the entire world”.

In explaining the rationale for the location of the headquarters in Jamaica, Patterson noted: ‘Jamaica did not hesitate to offer itself, not in a spirit of rivalry, but as a contribution to the game the furthering of Caribbean integration and in recognition that we could offer the requisite facilities.

“The choice of Jamaica indicates the recognition of the strength of our physical and financial infrastructure to host such an important Headquarters, which has to be dealing with institutions and countries on a worldwide basis.”

The headquarters will be leased to the ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. from now until a year after the World Cup. The Jamaica government is also refurbishing the facility which will be ready for occupancy by the ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. by mid November.—APP