Antigua and Barbuda has been making significant investments to ensure that its facilities are up to standard to host both practice and official matches of the upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup.

The Minister of Education and Sport, Daryll Matthew, who was a guest on the Browne and Browne radio program Saturday, said Antigua and Barbuda had received high commendations from members of a visiting delegation from the International Cricket Council for the work done to bring the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Liberta Sports Club, and Antigua Recreation Ground up to standard for visiting teams to practice.

According to Minister Matthew, Antigua and Barbuda is probably one of the countries that is most ahead in preparations for the world cup.

He noted that he had heard the cry of citizens about cosmetic work needed at the facilities but stated that those weren’t required by the ICC.

He further explained that the external facilities and amenities are not required as a part of the practice venue expectations.

The team will go there for an hour or two and do their warmups, batting drills and so forth. Hence, what is required is to have an adequate bathroom facility and an adequate outfield and pitch because it is a practice facility.

Antigua and Barbuda is set to host seven matches in total, including three Super 8 matches.

The main Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is set to receive renovations such as new player dressing rooms, an upgraded Media Centre, and retrofitted boxes.

Two electronic scoreboards are set to arrive in Antigua this week to replace the ones damaged during the passage of tropical storm Tammy.

World Cup Cricket action in Antigua begins on June 9 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium where Oman will play Scotland.

Mitchell said the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is set to be booked for cricket matches all the way until November.

The historic Antigua Recreation Ground will also be brought back into operational use.

According to Minister Matthew, it was his decision to have practice matches held at the Antigua Recreation Ground to get it recertified as a cricket facility either for first-class cricket or as a small T20 facility so that they can have three certified facilities in Antigua.

He added that work would be done to ensure that the Antigua Recreation Ground returned to some fragment of its former glory.