Bermuda has done all it can and now it?s time to await the verdict.

These are the sentiments of Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) president Reggie Pearman following a successful visit by the Venue Assessment Team (VAT) for the Cricket World Cup 2007 to the Island last Saturday.

?I thought it was very positive. We are very happy with our presentation and everything they saw here . . . They?ve come and checked what we had in the Bid Book and the ball is in their court.?

Come July 4, Bermuda and the other ten countries vying to host matches in the Cricket World Cup 2007 will know whether they are ?in the game or not? and on July 13 chosen venues will learn what matches they have been awarded. Bermuda are bidding for first-round matches (which has warm-up matches as a prerequisite) and warm-up matches alone.

?I think we stand a really good chance of getting something. Whatever we get it?s not up to us. Three nations are going to be left out unfortunately and hopefully we?re not one of them.

?We bid within our means. We know no finals or semi-finals are conducive to Bermuda because we could never accommodate all that.

?I think what we submitted was well received and they were impressed,? said Pearman of the 12-member group?s day-long tour and meetings.

Despite steady downpours on Saturday morning, the BCB chief said all plans, including a visit to the National Sports Centre where a new cricket pavilion is under construction, went smoothly.

At the Frog Lane location, the showers may well have been a blessing in disguise.

?A couple of them even walked out in the rain to check the pitch and the technical guys were impressed with the drainage on the pitch because there was no water on it,? he disclosed.

Thanking all involved in the VAT?s whirlwind visit, Pearman said local experts in various sectors made presentations to the World Cup officials on issues such as security, transportation and accommodation during a series of meetings at both Fairmont Southampton and Hamilton Princess.

?We covered all areas. They put questions to us regarding things we would have to do which were not really major changes but things we can work through.

?The problems they saw are things we can deal with. They are within our scope of correcting.?

He noted the united front which Government, the BCB and corporate Bermuda put forward to the VAT was a positive show of the country?s support for bringing the Cricket World Cup to these shores.

Addressing a breakfast welcome for the VAT on Saturday, Premier Alex Scott pledged the entire Island?s backing for this venture.

?We seek to join with our Caribbean partners in assuring that this historic event is properly served with first-class facilities, a secure environment and an infrastructure that exceeds all the requirements,? he said.

In addition, Scott stressed Government was committed to ensuring that, if selected as a host venue, the Island received ?its fair share of attention, including an appropriate share of the public purse?.