Bermuda Cricket Board have moved one step closer to their goal of hosting a World Cup match in 2007 by officially registering their bid committee with World Cup organisers.

The BCB now have until May 6 of next year to put together a persuasive case for consideration and will know of the outcome in July when those countries selected to host matches will be unveiled during a live press conference.

BCB treasurer Neil Speight confirmed to TheRoyal Gazette yesterday that he had registered Bermuda's desire for involvement with World Cup authorities last Friday, three days before the December 1 deadline. Bermuda joins a list of islands which includes St.Kitts and Nevis, St.Vincent and the Grenadines, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St.Lucia, Barbados and Grenada who are also making bids to host World Cup games.

And according to the West Indies Cricket Board website, four more applications were expected to be submitted by yesterday's deadline day.

Speight was keen to stress that this was merely the first step in what is going to be a long process and he urged the wider cricketing community to get behind the bid.

"The Board itself is very keen on the idea and we hope to work closely with Government in order to bring this goal to fruition," he said.

"Hosting a World Cup game is no easy task and will require the commitment of those in power and the whole cricketing fraternity on the Island. We all have to work together in order to ensure that we have a creditable bid assembled by May."

Board president Reginald Pearman agreed with the sentiments expressed by his treasurer and pointed out that he too was hopeful that their endeavour would receive the full support and blessing of Bermuda Government.

To date there has been no official approval from Government but it is understood that there has been at least one meeting and some correspondence between the two and that the Board are now waiting to see whether Government will embrace the bid.

"I actually cannot confirm very much right now about our negotiations with Government, all I can say is that we are waiting on a response from them at this moment," said Pearman.

"They have the details that they required from us and the negotiations are still ongoing. There is no doubt that we are hoping that they will eventually embrace our bid."

One way or another the Board will need substantial financial help to act as a host, the president making no secret of the fact that they were incapable of underwriting it by themselves.

"Yes, I am hoping that they will embrace it, we can't do it by ourselves and to be honest I believe the Government has to become involved in assisting us in staging an event of this magnitude," added Pearman.

"There is a lot involved, so much has to be looked at with the criteria to act as a host obviously going to cause us to carefully evaluate and consider so many things which many may be totally unaware of at this stage."

Sports Minister Dale Butler and Sports Director Brenton Roberts could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Bermuda's hopes of hosting matches were heightened earlier this year when it was announced that a consortium of British, Caribbean and South African consultants had been awarded a contract to help the West Indies Cricket Board assess venues for the tournament.

British-based IMG, South Africa-based Rushmans and British-based SKM were appointed after a four-month bidding process involving 42 companies from five countries.

The three companies have carried out consultancy work at previous cricket World Cups as well as in rugby and soccer World Cups and the Olympics. The Cayman Islands-based event management company, Kelly Holding, will also help assess venues for the tournament.

To play an integral role in the World Cup isn't the only major topic on the BCB's agenda at present. The Board are also preparing to host of the Americas Cup next summer.

According to Pearman, that project is still on track with early July set as the tentative tournament date.

In addition to Bermuda, those teams scheduled to participate here are Cayman Islands, United States, Canada, Bahamas and Argentina.