Dubai, May 27 : The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially signed the agreement to stage the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

The tournament will be held throughout June 2019 and will be played at 10 venues. It is currently scheduled to involve 10 teams, according to espncricinfo. com.

"The signing of this agreement now enables ECB to enter into staging agreements with venues who wish to stage matches in the World Cup," ECB chief executive David Collier said here.

"The organising team from the 2013 Champions Trophy will commence the preparation work for this event immediately following the conclusion of the Champions Trophy, which ends with the final at Edgbaston on June 23.

England last staged the World Cup in 1999 along with the first three in 1975, 1979, and 1983. The 2004 Champions Trophy and second edition of the World Twenty20, in 2009, were also staged in the United Kingdom.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said: "England and Wales boasts a number of high quality cricket venues providing players, officials and spectators with excellent facilities. We look forward to working with the ECB to deliver an outstanding tournament."

Bidding to host World Cup matches is expected to be fierce with at least 11 clubs expected to apply: MCC, Surrey, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire, Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Somerset.(IANS)