The chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board is confident of meeting a target of 40 million dollars in overall ticket sales for the 2007 World Cup, which begins next March in Jamaica.

Ken Gordon, who also heads the nine local organising committees preparing for the event, said on Monday that over 50 per cent of the overall target had already been met in the first two phases of sales.

"The first phase was about packages and went very well as there is a great deal of interest in the world for the tournament," he told this news agency.

"The second phase which is meant for sales in the Caribbean is underway. The overall sales have been going reasonably well," he stated.

Gordon said the third phase, when tickets would be on general sale, would start in January and the organising committee was confident it would help meet revenue targets.

"We have projected earning of 40 million dollars keeping in mind the overall capacity of the stadiums to be used in the World Cup," Gordon said.

Gordon, in Pakistan on a private visit on the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board, conceded that the weakness was from the Caribbean sales.

"In the second phase the Caribbean people had the opportunity to buy tickets and with their deadline this month we are hopeful the demand will increase as the team has also been performing well in one-day cricket this year," he said.