ICC strips Pakistan of hosting World Cup 2011 matches

GHALLANAI: Pakistan has been denied to host the World Cup 2011 on security grounds, the International Cricket Council said on Friday. "It is a regrettable decision (but) our number one priority is to create certainty and deliver a safe, secure and successful event," ICC president David Morgan said in a statement issued from his office. During the first day of ICC’s Executive Board’s meeting, Australia and New Zealand strongly opposed Pakistan’s co-hosting of the matches of World Cup 2011 with Bangla Desh, India and Sri Lanka. David Morgan said: “I am unhappy to make this decision but it has been made to ensure security of the cricket players.” It has also been decided that World Cup Secretariat will now be shifted from Lahore and the World Cup matches will now be hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. This was decided after the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Report of attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore was also presented at the above meeting.