ICC Remove Pakistan As World Cup Host
Pakistan has been stripped of its hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup as a legacy of the Lahore terror attacks
In the wake of the Lahore terrorist attack Pakistan have been removed as a co-host for the 2011 World Cup by the International Cricket Council. An ICC Board meeting in Dubai resolved to stage the tournament entirely in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, resisting any temptation to delay the decision to see if the security situation might improve.
Seven Pakistani police officers were killed and six Sri Lankan players were injured during an armed attack on the team bus as they traveled to the third day of the Lahore Test match in early March. The match officials' minivan was also attacked. The driver was killed, but all officials miraculously escaped unhurt.
The ICC's acceptance that Pakistan cannot host international cricket in the foreseeable future contrasts with their lengthy attempts to stage last year's Champions Trophy in the country. The tournament was postponed for more than a year in the forlorn hope that the security situation would improve before being moved to South Africa. Administrators were not prepared to countenance such uncertainty for a tournament expected to reap profits of more than $400m (£270m).
David Morgan, the ICC president, said: "It is extremely regrettable that the Board has had to take this decision. However, our No1 priority is to deliver a safe, secure and successful event and the uncertainty created by events within Pakistan created a huge question mark over our ability to do just that."
The Board heard from Chris Broad, the former England batsman and ICC match referee, who had complained that Pakistani's security services had left them as "sitting ducks" and from Sri Lanka's captain, Mahela Jayawardene. Lord Condon, chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit, will chair a committee charged with reviewing security arrangements for all international cricket.
Seven Pakistani police officers were killed and six Sri Lankan players were injured during an armed attack on the team bus as they traveled to the third day of the Lahore Test match in early March. The match officials' minivan was also attacked. The driver was killed, but all officials miraculously escaped unhurt.
The ICC's acceptance that Pakistan cannot host international cricket in the foreseeable future contrasts with their lengthy attempts to stage last year's Champions Trophy in the country. The tournament was postponed for more than a year in the forlorn hope that the security situation would improve before being moved to South Africa. Administrators were not prepared to countenance such uncertainty for a tournament expected to reap profits of more than $400m (£270m).
David Morgan, the ICC president, said: "It is extremely regrettable that the Board has had to take this decision. However, our No1 priority is to deliver a safe, secure and successful event and the uncertainty created by events within Pakistan created a huge question mark over our ability to do just that."
The Board heard from Chris Broad, the former England batsman and ICC match referee, who had complained that Pakistani's security services had left them as "sitting ducks" and from Sri Lanka's captain, Mahela Jayawardene. Lord Condon, chairman of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit, will chair a committee charged with reviewing security arrangements for all international cricket.
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