Bermuda will learn later this month what warm-up matches they have been allocated for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

As plans for the cricketing showpiece in the Caribbean begin to crystallise, the International Cricket Council?s (ICC) Executive Board are due to meet in mid-month to, among other things, finalise the warm-up schedule which precedes the tournament.

Bermuda Cricket Board official Neil Speight confirmed yesterday that the Island was still slated to host warm-up games and had maintained its place as first alternate in case any of the tournament?s host countries could not fulfil their obligations.

?Yes we are. Nothing has changed as far as I know,? he said, adding that it was unclear how teams would be grouped for warm-up matches.

?I?m not sure if teams are going to play warm-up games against the same teams they will face in the competition.

?There was some thought to mixing them up.?

Meanwhile, chief executive of the 2007 Cricket World Cup Chris Dehring is optimistic that, with some assistance, Grenada will be able to remain on target to host matches and reap the attendant economic benefits.

Expressing the great concern of the global cricket family for Grenada in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan ? which destroyed the country?s new national sports complex ? he indicated that he was pleased to have Grenadian representatives, Walter St. John and Kenny Hobson at Venue Summit III in St. Kitts recently, given the difficult circumstances.

?The decision to proceed rests with the Grenada government and LOC (local organising committee) but it would certainly be a tremendous incentive to restore infrastructure rapidly and a great boost to the economy and spirit of the Grenadian people to host in 2007.?

Dehring noted that the 2007 Cricket World Cup was working to assist Grenada with their restoration process but stressed that the organisation?s mandate would not be compromised in any way.

?While we are aware of the severe challenges facing Grenada, CWC has to deliver its obligations to its stakeholders and all venues will ultimately have to make the agreed deadlines,? he said.

?As a region we have to demonstrate that we can deal with natural disasters since more hurricanes may impact on the region before 2007.

?While we hope that none will devastate any country as Ivan did to Grenada, we will have contingencies for this.?

Venue Development Director Don Lockerbie revealed that venues were also being required to ensure that their facilities met specific standards in terms of hurricane resistance and to have construction schedules with appropriate timeline contingencies. Disaster response plans must also be integrated into each venue?s operations.