The redeveloped Warner Park, constructed with grant financing from the government of Taiwan, will be completed in time for St Kitts to host the Third One-Day International, West Indies vs India, on May 23 and the Third Test, West Indies vs India, June 22 to 26 of the Digicel 2006 Series.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of next year’s Cricket World Cup has played down suggestions the tournament’s stadia may not be ready by October’s deadline.

Chris Dehring is insisting it is “full steam ahead” for the building work on host venues across the West Indies, despite recent concerns regarding possible delays, chiefly to the renovation of Sabina Park in Jamaica.

However, Dehring admitted a contingency plan regarding the relocation of matches has been submitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) should the worst happen.

Speaking in Grenada, Dehring said: “Everyone is moving forward as planned. Of course we have a back-up plan in place and it is currently being reviewed by the ICC. That plan will only be implemented if absolutely necessary.

“At present, there is no one country that is being earmarked to ‘take’ matches currently assigned to another host venue.

“If a decision were to be taken to relocate matches from one host venue to another, it could only be taken by ICC CWC WI 2007 Inc. This is not a decision that can be made by anyone outside of CWC,” said Dehring.

A number of countries in the region have indicated that they are on standby and willing to take on matches should other host venues not be ready.

Dehring added that while “this spirit of cooperation” was “critical to the overall success of the tournament, at this time every country is expected to meet its obligation to host matches.”

He added: “Each host venue is working not only on the completion of their stadia but on all the other infrastructural elements required to support the hosting of the tournament.”

The tournament gets underway in March, meaning the spotlight is fixed on all 12 venues being upgraded or constructed for the tournament and their respective states of readiness.

“We have just over 300 days to go, including weekends and public holidays, and everyone concerned is working assiduously to ensure that no time is lost,” Dehring said.

“At this point in time, we at ICC CWC 2007 Inc. have a clear understanding of where each country is in their stadium development and I expect that each one of them will indeed be complete within the timeframe set.”

Jamaica recently confirmed delays based on cement shortages on the island, with the Sabina Park contractors’ schedule showing a completion date as late as next February.

But, according to Dehring, a revised critical path of completion has now been submitted by the contractors and is under review by the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

Warner Park in St Kitts is on the verge of completion and will shortly be formally handed over to the St Kitts & Nevis LOC.

In Antigua, the most recent phase of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium has just been completed - 22 days ahead of schedule. The contractors aim to build on that momentum to ensure that the ground is completed well within the prescribed deadline.

Guyana’s Providence Stadium is also progressing at a pace and is scheduled for completion by the deadline.