World Cup cricket will no longer be coming to Bermuda.

After weeks of speculation over whether the Island would want - or be able - to host warm-up games due to the costs of upgrading the National Sports Centre pavilion, the state of the pitch and the climate in February, the threat of rain finally stopped World Cup play yesterday once and for all.

Last July, World Cup organisers announced a change of time for the 2007 event, bringing it forward from March, April or May to late February and March.

They then asked for more information on Bermuda's winter, prompting concerns that the warm-up games may not be so warm after all.

Although Sports Minister Dale Butler had promised a decision six months ago, yesterday he finally revealed what many had suspected - Bermuda was saying a definitive no to World Cup cricket, thus saving the Island an estimated $30 million in the costs of upgrading the NSC.

“Bermuda's climate in February is significantly different from climates in the Caribbean at that time of year,” said Butler.

“And trying to host World Cup Cricket matches in Bermuda in February would not, we feel, do justice to such a prestigious event. If the dates reverted to the original timeframe, Bermuda would certainly reconsider its position.”

Butler said when Bermuda originally submitted their bid to host World Cup matches, the games had been scheduled to take place during the months of March, April and May. The ICC had recently revised the schedule and as a result, Bermuda was now expected to host the warm-up matches in late February and early March.

He said that “after careful consideration of Bermuda's unpredictable weather and seasonally cool climate in late February/early March, which might affect local attendances and Bermuda's cricketing reputation, the Government had regrettably decided to decline the ICC offer to host the warm-up matches”.

The announcement means the months of hard work and thousands of dollars that were ploughed into the Island's ambitious World Cup bid were nothing more than a waste of time and effort, especially when the national side is still without a coach ahead of the ICC Trophy later this year.

Contained in a silver briefcase, Bermuda's bid, which included the backing of film legend and Island resident Michael Douglas, was heralded by World Cup organisers as “one of the best” and there were hopes that Bermuda would be selected as a venue for the competition proper.

That dream was shattered in June, although the announcement that Bermuda would instead host warm-up matches and was first alternate softened the blow.

With the havoc created by hurricanes in the Caribbean this autumn, chances that the Island would be called upon to step into the breach as a World Cup venue became real - although all that is now gone.

Bermuda's withdrawal may have saved the Island face, with Butler hinting last year that the venue would be deemed unsuitable.

“At the moment we remain resolute that we're committed to the warm-ups but we have to now inform Government that those warm-ups have been moved to early March and that they (World Cup organisers) have requested additional information about the weather situation here in Bermuda,” he said at the time.

“I think they were hinting at something.”

Pressed on whether he felt the hint was that warm-up games would have to be relocated, he replied: “You can read between the lines. You know what March is like in Bermuda.

“But we were going on (the understanding that the matches would be at) the end of March which is a much better situation but they said the beginning of March.”

The Minister added that Government was grateful to World Cup organisers for “giving Bermuda an opportunity to join with Caribbean countries in bidding for World Cup Cricket matches”.

“The Government would like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to all of those who ‘stepped up to the wicket' when we announced that we would be bidding to host some of the ICC World Cup matches. Unfortunately, this time, it has not worked out for us as we had hoped.”

Although cricket enthusiasts - and the tourism industry - will be disappointed by the news, the withdrawal will save Bermuda millions in infrastructure upgrades which hosting top class international cricket would make necessary.

The new pavilion has already been declared inadequate for warm-up matches while the pitch has been described as only “fit for growing carrots”.

Bermuda can still participate in the World Cup, however, as they compete in the ICC Trophy in Ireland for one of five places in the main competition.

With the Government no longer needing to throw money at the NSC for hosting World Cup matches, cricket officials will be hoping some of that cash can be directed their way to assist with helping Bermuda to qualify instead - a process that is well behind schedule with the players currently working without a coach and no clear preparation plan.