India to host 2011 cricket World Cup final

Ap
Tuesday 28 April 2009 05:21 EDT
Comments
(GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The International Cricket Council has moved its 2011 World Cup headquarters to Mumbai and increased India's allocation of matches after stripping Pakistan of co-hosting rights following a terror attack last month on the Sri Lanka team.

India will host 29 of the 49 matches, including the final and a semi-final. Bangladesh will host the tournament opener among its eight matches and Sri Lanka will host 12 matches.

The 10th edition of the World Cup was initially scheduled to be co-hosted by the four South Asian cricket test countries.

But cricket's world governing body removed Pakistan as a host on April 17, six weeks after a dozen heavily armed gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team convoy en route to a test match at Lahore, Pakistan.

Seven players and a coach were injured in the attack and six police officers and a driver were killed in the ambush near the match venue.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat met with cricket officials from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Tuesday before announcing changes in tournament structure.

He said Ratnakar Shetty, an Indian cricket official, will be the event managing director and Shashank Manohar, Board of Control for Cricket in India, would head a security directorate.

"We have no doubts we will be able to put all security plans in place for 2011 World Cup under the guidance of the security directorate," Lorgat said. "It would be a safe World Cup."

Earlier this week, former Pakistan captain and coach Javed Miandad called for the World Cup to be moved from Asia, citing Australia's decision to boycott a Davis Cup tennis match against India at Chennai because of security concerns.

Australia, despite the risk of a fine and suspension from Davis Cup, said it would skip the match against India starting 8 May due to the same security concerns that prompted the BCCI to switch the lucrative IPL Twenty20 cricket tournament from India to South Africa this month.

The BCCI said it only moved IPL because it couldn't get security clearance from the government because the dates clashed with general elections.

Another international Twenty20 competition, which had been scheduled to feature the leading provincial teams from five countries in India, was scrapped last November in the wake of terror attacks on Mumbai which killed 166 people and injured 304. India blamed the attack on a Pakistan-based insurgent group.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in