S Asia begins preparations for 2011 World Cup

BHURBAN: Top cricket officials from across South Asia will meet here on Monday to launch preparations for the 2011 World Cup, which will mark the third time the tournament has been played in the region.   

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (IPSB) will jointly hold the mega-event, with the opening ceremony to be held in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka and the final due to take place in India.   

Pakistan and India hosted the World Cup in 1987, while Sri Lanka did the honours in 1996.   

Officials were expected to select a chairman for the organising committee, with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chairman Sharad Pawar likely to get the nod, Pakistan Cricket Board official Salim Altaf said.   

The committee's operations are to be based in Lahore, said Altaf, a former fast bowler who is now the PCB's director of special projects.   

Officials were expected to discuss the possibility of shortening the World Cup, after criticism of the 47-day tournament held in the Caribbean three months ago.   

"The final decision would come from the ICC but we can discuss every possible thing which could make the 2011 event attractive and acceptable," said Altaf.   

The quartet of South Asian countries was awarded hosting rights for the 2011 event at the expense of Australia and New Zealand, who will now run the event in 2015.   

India will host 22 matches, including the final, while Pakistan will stage 14 games including one semi-final. Sri Lanka will host nine matches with one semi-final, and Bangladesh will be hosting six matches.