Visitors prepare for Caribbean tours

The West Indies cricket team will have some time to sharpen their wits and prepare for the 2007 ICC World Cup when two touring teams visit the Caribbean from April to July 2006.

The Zimbabweans open the tour with two Tests. The first will be in Guyana from April 20 to 24, while the other in Trinidad and Tobago April 28 to May 2. {{more}}

Five One-Day International matches are slated. Trinidad and Tobago, will be the venue for back-to-back matches at Queens Park, May 6 and 7.

Vincentian cricket lovers will have an opportunity to be part of an historic occasion at the Beausejour Stadium in neighbouring St. Lucia. A Day/night encounter, the first in the region is set for May 10.

The last two One-Day Internationals are scheduled for Antigua, May 13 and 14.

Thereafter, the Indians will be in the region. They play five One day International games. The first two will be in Jamaica, May 20 and 21.

St. Kitts hosts the Indians in a One-Day encounter May 24. The other two games are carded for Trinidad, May 27 and 28.

There are four Test matches slated. The first will be in Antigua/Barbuda, June 9 to 13, and the second will be in St. Lucia, June 9 to 13.

St. Kitts hosts their first Test match, the third of the series, June 22 to 26. The fourth Test will be in Jamaica, June 30 to July 4.

Those games will serve as appetizer to West Indian cricket fans.

The ICC World Cup begins in the Caribbean on March 13, 2007. Sixteen countries will be vying for the world’s most prestigious One-Day Cricket title.

Australia is the reigning champion. They retained the title when the tournament was held in South Africa in 2003.