Pawar chairs organising committee meeting of World Cup 2011

Dubai/Mumbai, Apr.28 (ANI): The Central Organising Committee (COC) for the ICC Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC) 2011 met in Mumbai on Tuesday to continue preparations for the tournament.

The meeting, under the chairmanship of ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar, was attended by ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and representatives of the three countries set to host the event, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

It was the first meeting of the COC since the ICC Board resolved earlier this month that, given the current uncertainty surrounding the security situation within Pakistan, the country should not host matches in the ICC CWC 2011.

Among the decisions taken were:

Of the 49 matches due to take place in the tournament, 29 will be played in India, 12 in Sri Lanka and eight in Bangladesh. The 14 matches originally scheduled to take place in Pakistan have been redistributed with eight going to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh

A total of 13 venues will be used for the tournament with eight of those in India, three in Sri Lanka and two in Bangladesh. The previous set-up with four hosts including Pakistan had 15 venues proposed with eight in India, four in Pakistan, two in Sri Lanka and one in Bangladesh

Bangladesh will now stage two of the four quarter-finals, with India and Sri Lanka hosting one each. Under the previous arrangement each of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were to have staged one each

The two semi-finals will be staged in India and Sri Lanka, with the final in India

Scheduling for the quarter and semi-finals will attempt to ensure that the host country will play at home should it qualify

All venues for matches will be confirmed and announced in due course

The event tournament director was confirmed as Prof. Ratnakar hetty

The tournament secretariat will be based in Mumbai, India

Inderjit Singh Bindra, the ICC Principal Advisor, will work closely with the COC, adding his vast experience to the administration of the tournament. Mr Bindra was a key figure in the successful staging of the two previous ICC CWCs to be held on the sub-continent, in 1987 and 1996

A security directorate will be formed under the chairmanship of Board of Control for Cricket in India President Shashank Manohar.

It will include representatives of all three hosts and the ICC in a pro-active attempt to manage the issue both before and during the tournament

A venue inspection sub-committee was formed under the leadership of N Srinivasan.

Commenting on the gathering, ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "It was a very constructive and decisive meeting with various working groups now charged with the responsibility to deliver on operational requirements.

"With less than two years to go before we are due to stage cricket's biggest showpiece the clock is ticking, but everyone can be encouraged by the progress made in Mumbai today.

"Some fundamental decisions have been taken which have cleared the way for us to move forward and deliver the tournament successfully.

"We now need to continue with this level of progress in the weeks and months ahead to ensure a safe, secure and successful event."

Those attending the Central Organising Committee meeting in Mumbai were:

Sharad Pawar - Chairman, ICC Vice-President

Haroon Lorgat - ICC Chief Executive

Inderjit Singh Bindra - ICC Principal Advisor

From the Board of Control for Cricket in India:

Shashank Manohar

N Srinivasan

MP Pandove

Prof. Ratnakar Shetty

From the Bangladesh Cricket Board:

Lt Gen. Sina Ibn Jamali

Mahbubul Anam

Shafiqur Rahnan

From Sri Lanka Cricket:

D S De Silva

Nishantha Ranatunga

Sujeewa Rajapakse

Duleep Mendis

Dates for future meetings of the COC will be determined and announced in due course. (ANI)