Organisers of the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies have announced that one of the proposed venues for the tournament will not be ready in time and is to be replaced.

The Brian Lara stadium in Trinidad has been removed from the schedule – the venue had been due to host warm up matches featuring Pakistan, South Africa, Ireland and Canada, ahead of the competition, which begins on 11 March.

The substantial improvement works being undertaken on the 'Lara' had slipped some months behind schedule due to poor weather and supplier delays.

A replacement stadium on the island has not yet been confirmed, said World Cup chief, Chris Dehring, who insisted that the move was not a setback.

"With less than six months to the start of the tournament, ICC Cricket World Cup is very satisfied that the matter has been deliberated thoroughly, and a final decision for the good of the tournament has been taken," he said.

"There is full buy-in from all stakeholders involved with the tournament and 100 per cent awareness that we must deliver a world-class event," Gehring added.