The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup is currently taking place in the West Indies from March 13 to April 28, 2007.
There will be a total of 51 matches played at the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, which is three fewer than at the 2003 World Cup,
despite the two extra teams taking part. It will be contested by 16 nations divided into four groups of four teams.
The top two teams from each group will then compete in a "Super 8" format, similar to the previous "Super 6" format,
from which the semi-finalists will be decided.
The Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny, Jamaica hosted the Opening Ceremony on 11 March.
April 28: It was hardly Australia's fault they reached such heights that no team came within touching distance.
April 28: Australian batsman Adam Gilchrist (R) strikes a six off the bowling of Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (unseen)
in the first innings of the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
Teams
The ten countries with Test match status and Kenya qualified for this World Cup automatically, and 5 further teams qualified
via the 2005 ICC Trophy, thus gaining ODI status. The field of sixteen teams is the largest ever for the Cricket World Cup.
Hosts Host selection
The World Cup was awarded to the West Indies via the International Cricket Council's rotational policy. It's the first time the Cricket World Cup has been held in the Caribbean despite the fact that the West Indies cricket team have been the second most successful team in past World Cups.
The United States contingent lobbied toughly for matches to be staged at its newly built cricket ground in Lauderhill, Florida, but the ICC decided to award all matches to Caribbean nations. Bids from Bermuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and a second bid by Jamaica were also rejected.
Challenges and profits
In February 2006, West Indies hosting of the World Cup was questioned by Sir Ronald Sanders, a member of the Innovative Communication Corporation’s board of directors since the company’s inception, who expressed concern about the readiness of the West Indies for the tournament and the fiscal strain that hosting such an event may bring. He noted that governments throughout the region were investing heavily in the necessary infrastructure that hosting the games requires, and that many of them are banking on the expected benefits of tourism as a result of the World Cup to boost their economies in 2007 and beyond. West Indian sportsmen have hit back, claiming that the passion for cricket in the region is more than enough to make the tournament a success.
The famous West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding has also criticised the qualification process for the 2007 World Cup. Holding expressed doubts over the benefit to less established teams of turning up and being heavily defeated. However, former Scotland captain George Salmond claims that the opportunity to play one-day cricket against the bigger teams is invaluable for smaller teams such as his own, and questioned the validity of Holding's statements. In this he was supported by former Bermudian Captain, Lionel Cann.
