Icc Considers Moving 2011 World Cup
The International Cricket Council is requesting the organisers of the 2011 World Cup scheduled to take place in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to consider alternate venues due to security issues.
Though the ICC has said it is committed to keeping the World Cup in Asia, ongoing tension, which has heightened in the last few months, between India and Pakistan has resulted in the governing body considering the option of other locations.
After a wave of violence in Pakistan, the Champions Trophy – which was supposed to occur in September 2008 – was delayed and ultimately moved after South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand all expressed concern and threatened to pull out of the tournament if it was not relocated.
The Mumbai terrorist attacks in November affected international cricket as well, as the Champions League was postponed and the England team only returned to India under an unprecedented amount of security.
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said that because the World Cup is still over two years away, it is too early to be concerned, but that the issue is being monitored.
The World Cup organisers met this week to discuss various options. Other possible venues are expected to be announced after the next ICC board meeting in April.
