ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Cricket World Cup chief, Chris Dehring, says the region has overcome skepticism, displayed an unprecedented spirit of cooperation and was now well placed to showcase 10 of the best stadia in the world for next year's mega event.

"Never before in our history have we been so dependent on one another for success," said Dehring, the Jamaican investment banker, who is managing director and chief executive officer of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 organis-ing committee.

"Not one of us (countries) that are hosting can be successful in the Cricket World Cup without all nine of us being successful because we are going to be painted with the same brush," Dehring stressed following a venue inspection tour of the Vivian Richards Stadium here, last Saturday.

"I think collectively we are doing very, very well. I think we have been able to achieve things that the rest of the world have had tremendous amount of doubt about for a long time.

Finest collection

"To be very frank, I think when we unveil these stadia in 2007 the entire world will acclaim the Caribbean as having the finest collection of cricket stadia in the world. I have no doubt about it because - there is no country (which plays cricket now) that has 10 fantastic [stadiums] like we do now.

"I think that's generally the comments coming from the [the ICC venue inspection] team as we move from country to country. Quite frankly, this is not the image of the Caribbean they were expecting," Dehring said.

He said the passing of the Sunset Legislation - laws to govern the staging of the tournament - demonstrated the spirit of cooperation among regional governments to ensure a successful World Cup.

"It's not something to gloat about, but it's something we should certainly reflect on and think about what really could be accomplished if we put our minds to it and we decide to get together to do something," Dehring said.