Bermuda's dream of hosting Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 matches has come down to a straight fight with the USA.

The two countries were the only associate members in the region submitting bids by last Thursday's deadline and, with a small percentage of World Cup matches to be held outside the Caribbean, it's clear just one of them can possibly emerge triumphant on July 4.

The odds have increased for either prospective venue as a result of The Bahamas - the other associate member initially in the running - not bidding for World Cup matches but just how much better their chances are is anybody's guess.

“Yes, I think it increases our prospects of getting matches but whether we are going to, that's something which is out of our hands,” said Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) president Reggie Pearman, adding that he knew nothing about the USA's bid.

“There was a rumour that The Bahamas and the USA were trying to do something together - a combined bid - but I guess that didn't materialise.”

Eleven countries are battling for a share of cricket's greatest showpiece - Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and the USA - and a minimum of eight cricket stadia are required to stage the sporting spectacle.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of CWC 2007 Chris Dehring expressed delight at the response and interest shown by various countries.

“We are extremely pleased that so many countries have made themselves available to share with the WICB and CWC 2007, the responsibility of hosting this mammoth event. This response by the cricket associations and their respective governments gives us tremendous confidence to collectively stage a successful Cricket World Cup in 2007.”

He noted the bid process is the best approach to prepare countries for the collaborative effort required across the region.

Likening the process to the building of a cricket team, he said: “For the team to be tested, prepared and strong, individual team members need also to be tested, prepared and strong. This process is a more scientific, systematic and professional approach than other methods suggested.

“It is designed to facilitate fairness, transparency and equal opportunity for all interested countries to be selected to the ‘team', regardless of size or cricket tradition.

“More important however, is that by requiring every country to go through the process, collectively as a region we are now better prepared for the delivery of a uniformed, world-class standard which we are contracted to deliver to the ICC (International Cricket Council).”

Dehring added that, judging from the high production quality of bids, it's evident all countries took the process seriously and have invested in it.

“We have no doubt that the semi-competitive environment helped to further stimulate countries to give of their best,” the CWC chief noted.

“We respect the fact that all eleven countries which submitted a response might each have different views as to how this event could be run. This is clearly one of the major challenges anticipated with hosting an event of this magnitude across so many countries, but we were able to achieve relative unity.”

Now that bidding is closed, the Venue Assessment Team (VAT), comprising an independent group of world-games experts will assess submissions based on the 24 “deliveries” which countries were asked to address.

These include: the cricket stadium and cricket operations, security issues, medical facilities, finance, accommodation, political environment, local organising committee, disaster management, media facilities, accreditation, communications, marketing support, immigrations and customs. Bids will also be judged on time of delivery and completeness.

Following visits to each country between May 24 and June 12 to verify the information in their respective submissions, the VAT's technical assessment and recommendations will be passed to the Board of Directors for CWC 2007 who will allocate matches before sending their decision to the ICC for approval.

Chairman of the CWC's Board Rawle Brancker lauded the diligence with which prospective host venues undertook formulating their bids.

“The hard work that countries have put in to respond to the very challenging ICC CWC 2007 Bid Book will go a far way to prepare the countries individually and collectively to host the event, whichever venues are finally selected.

“I congratulate all who participated because you have demonstrated a willingness to adhere to process, procedure and timelines which is paramount if we are to successfully stage the 2007 Cricket World Cup.”