It’s official. For all its legal aggression and overt bravado, Pakistan will not get to host any matches of the 2011 World Cup. Neither in Pakistan nor elsewhere. Its effort to hold its quota of matches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai has not got any backing. India have been opposing any move to take the tournament to another country.
The Central Organising Committee (COC) of the event has upheld India’s position on the matter. The COC has endorsed the April 27 meeting where it was decided that
all the 49 matches should be played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan will
be co-host with members in each committee.
At a meeting of the host nations here on Tuesday, it was also decided that the Central Secretariat of the tournament will remain in Mumbai. It was earlier opened in Lahore. The meeting was attended by representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC), India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cricket Boards.
The COC reiterated its earlier decision to distribute matches. India will get to host 29 of the 49 matches. Pakistan was originally allotted 14 matches. Pakistan, however, has been given membership in the COC. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been asked to nominate three members to the COC which will be headed by Sharad Pawar, former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Prof Ratnakar Shetty, the Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI, will be the tournament director.
