International Cricket Council confirmed yesterday.

Awarding the 2007 Cup competition to the West Indies, the ICC said there was a possibility that some of the matches would be played in Bermuda, Canada and the United States.

ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya said sharing of the World Cup by the West Indies would help spread the game.

"The West Indies Cricket Board have been extremely considerate and we are hoping that several games could be played in these countries,'' Dalmiya said.

England, hosts of the seventh World Cup in 1999, have allocated some matches to Scotland and the Netherlands.

The world's premier limited-overs competition will move to South Africa in 2003 and the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) are also considering giving some matches to Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Canada were granted the right to host the 2001 ICC Trophy for non-Test playing nations, which is also the qualifying competition for the World Cup for countries like Bermuda.

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James, who, as a player, tried unsuccessfully in 1979 and '82 to help Bermuda qualify for the World Cup, was delighted with yesterday's developments.

James said they fitted in perfectly with the building of the Bermuda National Centre, which has plans for a cricket field of international standard, and also the resurrection of the youth league which will supply new talent to the national team.

"Maybe Bermuda will be a part of that World Cup,'' said an optimistic James.

"By the time the World Cup is held in 2007, maybe we will be watching Bermuda play some other country right here on home soil.'' James insisted it was not as far fetched as some might think.

"No, not when you look at the talent that's out there in our junior ranks right now, fellas scoring centuries and double centuries. If we can keep these fellas intact we can make strides towards being involved in the 2007 World Cup, for sure,'' said James.

The possibility of Bermuda staging a World Cup, if and when the West Indies hosted the competition, was first revealed under former president Ed Bailey.

Yesterday it moved closer to reality.

"It would be a boost, not only for tourism and the country but also for the sport as well, especially from a cricket fan point of view, being able to see first class cricket right here on our own soil,'' said James.

But looking over the plans for the National Centre cricket field, James said he had some concerns about sufficient seating being allowed.

"The size of the stadium is definitely up to scratch and recently we had the ICC Development Officer here and he looked at the plans,'' the president added.

"There are a couple of deficiencies that we saw and the National Sports Centre trustees are looking at bringing everything up to scratch. Seating would be one of our concerns, yes.'' Work is currently being carried out on the cricket field which is expected to be completed by the end of January, 1999. All other components will be ready for use late in the year 2001.

Meanwhile, the ICC yesterday deferred a final decision on creating a world championship for Test cricket but reduced the frequency of the under-19 limited-overs World Cup to every two years.

A decision on the viability of a Test cricket world championship will now be made at the end of the year, ICC's chief executive David Richards said.

Richards said the idea remained under consideration but a stand-alone Test cricket world championship, held every four years over two months, could be staged alongside an official Test ladder.

The Test ladder would, in effect, be a constantly updated league table.

"The concept of a stand-alone Test cricket world championship remains under consideration, but there are issues of timing and avoidance of commercial conflict which require resolution,'' Richards said.

He said the Test ladder was another option but this would require an equitable programme of Test tours between all countries.

"It may appear that we are going a bit slow, but something like this needs a lot of work,'' Richards said. "We have to be certain we have a concept which is viable.''