UWI CAMPUS FOR WORLD CUP CRICKET 2007

The Sir Frank Worrell Oval at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad & Tobago has been chosen to replace Brian Lara Cricket Academy as a warm-up venue for next year's ICC Cricket World Cup.

 

Canada, Ireland, Pakistan and South Africa will play a four-match series of warm-up games at the ground from March 5-9 next year, ahead of the start of the tournament on March 13, 2007.

 

In making the announcement earlier this morning at his office, Trinidad & Tobago's Minister of Sport, Roger Boynes, also disclosed that St Mary's College grounds will now be utilised as a practice venue for ICC CWC 2007; the purpose for which the Sir Frank Worrell Oval was originally intended. The decision means that two UWI campuses - Cave Hill's 3 Ws Oval in Barbados being the other - will now host warm-up matches for the Event.

 

ICC CWC 2007 Venue Development Director, Donald Lockerbie, said CWC 2007 is fully satisfied with the contingency arrangements and expect that "the UWI ground will be prepared to the required world-class standard".

 

The venue will be upgraded with a combination of legacy and overlay infrastructure and the ICC CWC 2007 Sports Agronomy Team (SAT) will conduct the necessary tests and inspections of the pitch and outfield.

 

The ICC CWC 2007 official applauded the cooperative spirit between the Ministry of Sport and the Trinidad & Tobago Local Organising Committee (LOC), noting that they had worked decisively to determine the best replacement venue for Warm-up fixtures.

 

"It is a testament to the monitoring process which is in place and which has allowed for the early detection of any challenges where venue development is concerned. Now a solution has been found and everyone will be moving ahead swiftly to ensure the new venue meets the relevant standards by the required date," said Lockerbie.