ICC to review Pakistan's World Cup role
International Cricket Council to review Pakistan's status as co-host of 2011 World Cup after attack upon Sri Lankan team - Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License
Also In The News
|
England captain Andrew Strauss admitted there was nothing more his bowlers could do in the drawn fourth Test against the West Indies. |  |
Tuesday, 03, Mar 2009 06:13
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed it will review Pakistan's role as co-host of the 2011 World Cup following today's deadly attack upon the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
About a dozen gunmen opened fire on the team's bus as it arrived at the Gaddafi Stadium, injuring six team members and killing five policemen assigned to protect them.
The attack has left Pakistan's future as an international cricket venue in jeopardy, with its position as co-host of the World Cup in two years almost certain to be scrapped.
Sri Lanka had only agreed to tour Pakistan after India pulled out amid security concerns and the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks. The remainder of the tour has already been cancelled as Sri Lanka's players are flown out of the country.
The ICC told inthenews.co.uk the issue would be "at the top of the agenda" when the governing body's board next me in Dubai.
Pakistan is due to host 14 World Cup games, with the rest spread across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Former Pakistani skipper Waqar Younis told the Reuters news agency that Pakistan's chance of hosting games was "gone".
"I don't see the International Cricket Council (ICC) allowing World Cup matches to be held in Pakistan now," he said.
In the UK, culture secretary Andy Burnham said the "shocking and senseless" attack marked a "grim day" for sport.
"The game of cricket brings players, spectators and nations together in a common, peaceful, purpose, and this appalling attack is a grotesque violation of that," he said.
"Our thoughts are with the Sri Lankan cricketers and with the families of the Pakistani police officers who died protecting them."
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it was "shocked and saddened" by the attack.
"Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed or injured in this despicable attack," a statement said.
The ECB has also been in touch with both boards, the ICC and the Sri Lanka team to offer their thoughts and condolences to those involved."