St. John's, Antigua -- 20 Jan., 2007 -- World Cup Antigua Inc. (WCAI), the Local Organising Committee for Cricket World Cup 2007, is confident that the pitches and outfield at the Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds, will pass an International Cricket Council inspection later this month. The ICC CWC 2007 had expressed concern about the slow growth of grass on the pitches and damage to parts of the outfield during a previous inspection last November.

Martin Cave, the cricket operation manager of WCAI, said the ground staff had rectified the problem and he was satisfied the remedial work was bearing “grass.”

“That’s what they are coming to see and that’s what they will see,” Cave said of the upcoming ICC inspection at month-end.

He said the pitches were playable and three of them had been rated among the four fastest in the Caribbean by the soil agronomy team of the University of the West Indies.

Antigua will play host to Group A World Cup matches in the Super Eight, second round between 27 March and 8 April.

Source: antigusun.com