CASTRIES, St. Lucia - Bermuda was represented at a two-day summit which began in St. Lucia yesterday to select which countries will host matches in cricket's 2007 World Cup began.

About 170 delegates from 13 countries, including the United States and the Cayman Islands, were attending the Venue Summit. It is understood Bermuda Cricket Board president Reggie Pearman was at the event pushing the Island's bid.

The Caribbean Development Bank, also represented at the meeting, has agreed to provide every host country with the financing required to improve their facilities before the event, said Rawle Brancker, chairman of the ICC's Cricket World Cup Committee.

The West Indies, who won the first two World Cups in England in 1975 and 1979, will be hosting the tournament for the first time.

"We feel very confident that we will shock the world by producing the best World Cup ever," Brancker said. "When we take the No.1 cricket event and couple it with the region that we have, I think there is a great opportunity for us to put on a show that will be hard to beat."

Caribbean countries can begin applying in November to host matches in cricket's 2007 World Cup. Interested governments have until January 31 to submit applications.

In February 2002, then-president of the West Indies Cricket Board Pat Rosseau said Grenada was the only Caribbean country capable of hosting World Cup matches.

Rousseau warned then that the islands could lose the chance to host the tournament if they do not improve facilities and infrastructure.

Cricket officials in the region have hired grounds experts to help Caribbean countries in upgrading facilities to be ready for regular ICC inspections leading up to the event.