JOHANNESBURG, South Africa,  CMC – Officials of the International Cricket Council have debunked media reports that the West Indies were in danger of losing the right to host the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup.

A British tabloid report on Wednesday set off alarm bells in the Caribbean about whether the veracity of the report.

The Daily Mail reported that the bitter dispute between the players and the West Indies Cricket Board could see the competition moved to the United Arab Emirates.

The newspaper indicated that a meeting of chief executives from all the leading countries taking place in South Africa over the next few days would consider switching the event.

The report also noted that the sport’s World governing body was wary of a repeat of the World Cup in the Caribbean two years ago, when poor crowds prevailed, and felt that the hosts must have a team capable of making an impact.

But James Fitzgerald, the ICC communications officer, has denied the suggestion.

“There is no truth in the report,” he told the Gulf News daily based in Dubai, where the ICC has its coporate offices.

When the CMC Sports Wire contacted the organising committee in the Caribbean, a spokesperson also rejected the claims.

Barbados, Guyana, and St. Lucia are set to host matches in the Twenty20 World Cup, which also features a women’s competition that will be played at the same time in St. Kitts