THE England and Wales Cricket Board can begin the process of allocating matches for the 2019 World Cup after finalising the hosting agreement with the International Cricket Council.
The ICC decided that the tournament would come to England and Wales as far back as 2006 but the ECB has just signed the paperwork that will begin the procession of putting venues out to tender.
An ECB statement read: "The International Cricket Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board have signed the host agreement to stage the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales at meetings held in Dubai on May 26."
The tournament will be held throughout June 2019 and will be played at ten venues.
The ECB is currently preparing for next month's Champions Trophy and the team behind that event - headed by former South Africa all-rounder Steve Elworthy - will also be laying the foundations for the World Cup.
ECB chief executive David Collier, who signed the agreement in Dubai, said: "The signing of this agreement now enables the ECB to enter into staging agreements with venues who wish to stage matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
"The organising team from the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, led by tournament director Steve Elworthy, will commence the preparation work for this event immediately following the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy, which ends with the final at Edgbaston on June 23.
"The ECB is honoured to have been selected to stage one of the largest and most important global sports events which will be a wonderful boost to sport and cricket in particular throughout England and Wales."
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