CRICKET Board president Reggie Pearman probably got it right this week when he complained Bermuda?s bid to host World Cup 2007 matches was much better than some of the Caribbean islands who ultimately succeeded.

There?s no doubt that the elaborate and costly submission put together by the BCB, Government and their consultants was a first class effort that made a huge impression on the World Cup?s Venue Assessment Team.

And with work continuing on the National Sports Centre, there?s no reason to believe Bermuda couldn?t have provided a facility just as good and potentially far superior to anything that will be on offer in the islands to our south.

But the fact that the bid submitted by the USA, who were planning to construct a multi-million dollar purpose-built stadium in Florida, was also rejected, suggests there was never much, if any intention, of taking the next World Cup anywhere outside the Caribbean ? regardless of who could provide what.

It?s just a great pity that those who made the final decision couldn?t have made that clear in the first place, saving everybody else a great deal of time and money.

Having been selected as first alternate and awarded a series of warm-up matches, the BCB and Bermuda as a whole now find themselves in something of a dilemma.

Do we continue to pour millions of dollars into an event for which we will most likely only play a peripheral role and reap limited rewards ? warm-up matches no matter who they involve are unlikely to attract TV coverage or an influx of cricket tourists ? or do we abandon ship while there?s still time?

Regular letter writer Recman made some interesting observations earlier this week and again in today?s Sports Mailbox when he questioned the sense of preparing for an event for which we are unlikely to play a major part, when the same money could be better spent on preparing our own team and ensuring that they qualify for their first World Cup.

A fraction of what might be invested to satisfy the ICC?s World Cup requirements could be used to make a promising Bermuda national team a very good team.

With the right preparation ? something we haven?t seen with previous national sides attempting to qualify for the World Cup ? there?s no reason at all why Bermuda couldn?t be competing in the 2007 festival.

The decision should be simple.

SO FAR, so good. While their performances on the field this week in the Americas Championship ? the initial World Cup qualifying series ? haven?t been altogether convincing, Bermuda have already booked their spot in the ICC Trophy in Ireland next year.

Three games, three wins ? albeit against some of the weakest teams in the region ? will certainly have helped build confidence.

But a better gauge of the team?s potential will be provided this weekend in matches against Canada and USA, countries hardly recognised by the rest of the world as cricketing powers, but who in recent years have compiled a superior international record to our own.

What will be particularly interesting will be the number of cricket fans who turn up at the NSC to support the team.

Cup Match and County games apart, Bermuda cricket rarely attracts big crowds.

But with their sights firmly set on the World Cup, the players would surely like to believe the whole country?s behind them.

We did it for the soccer team. A repeat performance for the men in white would be greatly appreciated.