Kallicharran played in two Cup-winning West Indies sides

Kallicharran was part of the team that won the first two tournaments in 1975 and '79, but they have failed to achieve success in the event since.

"It's a long time since we dominated world cricket but you can see the excitement," he told BBC World Service.

"I hope it's going to rejuvenate our players playing at home in front of big crowds in new stadiums."

The renovations of the grounds has been a major talking point in the build-up to the tournament, but Kallicharran is impresed with what he has seen.

He recently appeared for a West Indies XI against a Rest of the World side at the newly refurbished Kensington Oval in Barbados, and termed the ground: "As good as any in the world."

Australia know what it's all about, England are peaking at the right time and New Zealand are a dark horse Alvin Kallicharran

Kallicharan, who played 66 Tests and 31 ODIs between 1972-81, is hopeful it will inspire the players of today, who contest Group D with Pakistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

"It will be a great thing for us," he said. "We are not a bad one-day team, the batting order is good the first and the bowling is not as quick as it was but they are good enough to bowl 10 overs.

"If they create an impact early in the tournament that means they are going to create a buzz.

"This is going to be a very open World Cup, because the wickets are slow and teams from the subcontinent will play a big part.

"Australia know what it's all about, England are peaking at the right time and New Zealand are a dark horse."

The competition will span six weeks, a far cry from the first event in England 32 years ago, which comprised only eight teams and was completed in a fortnight.

"It was exciting for us, we were going into the unknown," Kallicharran recalled of the inaugural 1975 World Cup.

"In the middle of the tournament we just came into our own."

The diminutive left-hander made 78 as the Caribbean side recorded a seven-wicket victory over favourites Australia in a group match at The Oval.

"[Dennis] Lillee and [Jeff] Thomson were bowling," he recalls. "Thomson was the quickest bowler to ever bowl a cricket bowl. Lillee was quick and a very clever bowler."

"When your adrenalin is pumping you don't know what you do sometimes, I just dominated Lillee and Thompson that day and it created a big focus.

"We knew whenever we came to play in England how much hunger there was [among West Indians in England] for cricket because it gave them a bit of identity and importance wherever they went.

"They gave us the added incentive, and to win the first World Cup for them in England and for West Indians, it was the most exciting thing that ever happened."