CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — A bright picture is being painted ahead of the region’s hosting of the International Cricket Council’s World Twenty20 tournament next year.

“Overall my message to you and to the general public is that at this point we are feeling fairly comfortable with the state of preparations and readiness for the event itself,” Tournament Director Robert Bryan disclosed at a news conference here on Wednesday.

Describing the news conference as a “year-end update”, Bryan stated that the four countries staging matches Barbados, St Lucia, Guyana and St Kitts — were fortunate to already have facilities in place.

“The overall preparations in the region for the tournament we will characterise as doing well. Unlike 2007, we do not have physical facilities being built at this time. They have already been built and are pretty much up to the standards required for international competitions and therefore what is required is to tweak and overlay them in a manner that is consistent with what is required for World Twenty20,” he stated.

He added: “All of the physical facilities are proceeding very well — even requirements for the third and fourth dressing rooms. All the arrangements have been made to get those in place on time and we are at the phase right now of actually commissioning work to get that done by the latest early or mid January.”

Commenting on issues related to field and pitch preparation, Bryan said a number of inspections have been done at the respective venues.

“Recommendations have been made as to what is required and at this point I can report that we are taking the necessary steps. We are comfortable that all the remedial action that is required to have the pitch and field facilities in tip top condition right across the region is being taken,” Bryan announced.

Bryan anticipates approval from the ICC authorities when final venue inspections are done late next month.