[CRICKET]

Posted Monday May 12, 9:50 AM

Antigua to construct US$10M cricket stadium

Antigua Recreation Ground

ST JOHN'S, Antigua - Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Lester Bird has disclosed that the government of the People’s Republic of China will be assisting the island in building a new ultra-modern cricket stadium to enhance its bid to host matches in the World Cup which will be staged in the Caribbean in 2007.

"The jury is out on the matter as there are some of my Cabinet colleagues who feel we should build a new stadium, something to what is in St Lucia," Bird said in an interview during the fourth and final Cable and Wireless Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

"To many the ARG has a rich history, it is the ground where Sir Viv made the fastest Test century in 56 balls, Brian Lara made his famous 375 runs, here now we have young (Jermaine) Lawson with seven wickets for 78 runs, and I also played here in my years of cricket," said Bird, who is a former Antigua fast bowler.

However, according to Bird, time is of great essence for him and his government as England will be touring the Caribbean next year and this is the most lucrative tour for the Antigua Cricket Association (ACA) and they are not prepared to give it up.

"That being so, the government will have to wait until after that tour before work can begin on remodelling the ARG in order to accommodate the World Cup 2007," Bird pointed out.

The Antigua and Barbuda leader therefore fears that there would not be enough time to prepare the ARG for the 2007 World Cup and the country could lose out on its bid to host matches in 2007.

However, Bird added that the option would be to construct a brand new cricket stadium at a cost of around US$10 million.