ICC stands by Pakistan decision

ICC president David Morgan addresses a press conference alongside chief executive Haroon Lorgat at Lord's today

The International Cricket Council has reaffirmed Pakistan will not host any matches at the 2011 World Cup.

The ICC board had already made the decision at a previous meeting in April following the spate of terror attacks in Pakistan, not least an assault on the Sri Lanka team bus.

Following recent discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board, ICC president David Morgan reported back to the governing body’s commercial board who reaffirmed their decision today.

It also confirmed Lahore will be “removed” as the administrative headquarters of the competition.

The ICC commercial board instructed the Central Organising Committee to look into where the 14 matches Pakistan had been due to host should now be staged within India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Morgan said: “The IDI Board reaffirmed its earlier decision that matches in the tournament will not be played in Pakistan and asked the four host countries to come together to determine where the matches originally set to take place in Pakistan should now take place.

“The Central Organising Committee has been asked to come back to the board as soon as possible with a recommendation, and once the board has that then it will determine the locations for those matches.

“The board remains committed to resolve this issue as soon as possible as there is an urgent need to press on with arrangements for the ICC’s flagship event, now less than two years away.”

The ICC also revealed after today’s meeting the PCB have accepted their offer to work with a “task team to help ensure Pakistan retains its position in international cricket”.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke will be among the team assisting the PCB.