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The West Indies cricketers could haul in close to US$700000 if they win the seventh World Cup, which runs from May 14 to June 20 in England.

With a winners' prize of US$300000 (BDS$600000) already up for grabs in the game's greatest showpiece, the West Indies were yesterday presented with a further US$350000 incentive from sponsors Carib Breweries. The bounty would be the largest in the history of the World Cup.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Carib recently entered into a US$1 million sponsorship deal which covers the World Cup and next year's Test match tour of England.

A release from WICB said: ``If the team reaches the semifinals they get US$50000, if they get to the final they receive US$100000, and a win for the Windies brings a bounty of US$200000.''

It continued: ``The World Cup Champions...collect the prestigious golden World Cup. All the money goes to the players.''

Chris Dehring, chief marketing officer of the WICB, said yesterday the players were very pleased with the package, which is part of an ongoing incentive system for every tour.

Such large amounts are a far fetch from the first World Cup in 1975, when the West Indies Cricket Board of Control did nothing for the players apart from the agreed £350 for each player.

The tournament organisers have also set up a fine pay-day for winning teams. In the five preliminary matches, the West Indies can earn US$6000 per win. In the Super Six second round, sixth-finisher gets US$ 27500, and the fifth-placed team collects US$52500. The two losing semifinalists earn US$100000 each, and the losing finalists bag US$150000.

The West Indies are drawn in Group B along with favourites Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and first-timers Scotland.

The tournament bowls off on Friday with host England taking on defending champs Sri Lanka at Lord's, while the Windies start their campaign on Sunday against Pakistan at Bristol.

Both of these matches will be on CBC-TV starting at 5:45 a.m.

The final is on June 20.