Sabina Park 'fit to host opener' CHECK !!

A worker screwing seats into place at Sabina Park on 3 March

Sabina Park has been given the go-ahead to host the opening match of the World Cup in Kingston on Tuesday.

West Indies and Pakistan were moved to Kensington Cricket Club to practice on Monday because the nets at Jamaica's principal ground were not ready.

But ICC spokesman Brian Murgatroyd said: "There is a lot going on, as you would expect, so it made sense for them to practice at the Kensington club.

"We are going to play at Sabina Park, weather permitting. It's ready to go."

All of the venues have either been built or revamped for the tournament and Murgatroyd added: "Sabina Park looks absolutely spectacular."

The opening Group D match should now start as planned at 1430 GMT, with organisers insisting everything else is ready.

Pitch consultant Andy Roberts had admitted: "There's no point taking any risks for these early games."

World Cup corporate communications director Marvia Roach told BBC Sport: "If Sabina Park was not ready, I would know."

She said one of the teams had requested a move to Kensington Cricket Club.

When that happened "the other team followed suit", she added.

Reuters reported that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had told a news conference: "We would rather practise on good facilities than facilities that are not ready."

The same agency also carried comments from West Indies captain Brian Lara.

I am not going to say there are not going to be any mishaps but I am almost sure there is not going to be anything major Brian Lara

He said the problem was a "little hiccup", adding: "From what I have seen so far, all the local organising committees have tried their best.

"Each big tournament and each event like the Olympics, although I have never been involved, they all have little hiccups.

"I am sure that the people will enjoy the Caribbean and we are going to stage the best tournament possible.

"I am not going to say there are not going to be any mishaps but I am almost sure there is not going to be anything major."

The region has had nine years to prepare for the World Cup.

Monday's events certainly did not seem ideal preparation for the big match, and West Indies are under enough pressure as it is.

A hammering by India in their final warm-up game raised serious questions about the home side's credentials.

I'll continue to play as long as I feel I can give a performance Inzamam-ul-Haq

But Lara said: "We tend to be unpredictable, this was not a one-off."

He is hoping they will bounce back strongly against a Pakistan side weakened by the absence of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq.

Despite that, Pakistan still managed to beat a strong South Africa side in Trinidad last week and although their bowling attack may not have the same cutting edge with the new ball provided by Shoaib and Asif, their powerful batting line-up remains intact.

"We have played before without Shoaib and Asif - it's a loss to the team, but we have enough good bowlers to do well without them," said captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

"All the players have had [match] practice, the bowlers have had their share as well as the batsmen, and we're all geared up for the World Cup."

Whatever the result at Sabina Park, both teams are expected to progress to the Super 8 phase from a group also involving Zimbabwe and Ireland.

Pakistan will rely on Umar Gul as the spearhead of their attack

But the match is crucial because the points won on Tuesday will be carried forward to the second stage.

It is the fifth World Cup for both Lara and Inzamam and definitely the last for the West Indies skipper.

Inzamam has acknowledged he is "nearing the end" but added: "I'll continue to play as long as I feel I can give a performance and there is no deadline for any player to end their career, as long as he continues to do well for his country."

West Indies have the upper hand in previous World Cup meetings, with five wins against Pakistan's two.

But recent form is in Pakistan's favour, with 10 victories in the last dozen meetings between the sides, including a 3-0 whitewash in the Caribbean in 2005.

They face a dilemma over whether to include specialist leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who has played 46 Tests but only 16 one-day internationals, or rely on all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi to provide any slow bowling required.

West Indies (from): B Lara (captain), I Bradshaw, D Bravo, S Chanderpaul, C Collymore, C Gayle, K Pollard, D Powell, D Ramdin, M Samuels, R Sarwan, L Simmons, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, J Taylor.

Pakistan (from): Inzamam-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Mahmood, Danish Kaneria, Imran Nazir, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Yousuf, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Rao Iftikhar, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat, Younis Khan.

Umpires: B Bowden (NZ), S Taufel (Aus)