ST JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) – Cricket’s top official defended organisation blunders at the 2007 World Cup on Sunday and said the event would leave a huge legacy for the game in the Caribbean.

Malcolm Speed, who is chief executive of the International Cricket Council, said that the world governing body was not responsible for setting the high ticket prices of up to US$100 that were resented by fans and led to thousands of empty seats at most matches.

Speed told reporters the World Cup had provided the impetus for Caribbean governments and cricket organisations to upgrade their infrastructure or build new stadiums matching international standards.

“One of the good things about this World Cup is a huge legacy product, an event like this has long-term impact,” Speed said while watching a Super Eights game between defending champion Australia and England at Antigua’s newly erected Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

“Many factors come into the equation when you assess the legacy component,” he said. “Teams will now come to the West Indies and play in five-star cricket venues. That doesn’t happen in many countries.”

Speed said that a look back at some older facilities in the West Indies would put things in perspective.

“Some of the earlier venues in the Caribbean nations were crumbling. Look at the stadiums in Antigua and Guyana, they were falling apart,” he said. “If you go to Barbados, the ground there needed to be rebuilt from the ground, and that’s what has happened.”