Lorgat: Pakistan Must Be Monitored

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat has asked for the 2011 World Cup organising committee to keep their options open in case the political situation in Pakistan worsens.
With Pakistan one of four countries due to host the tournament - India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the others - Lorgat said the climate needs to be monitored.
Last year the ICC was forced to postpone the Champions Trophy due to continual security problems in Pakistan, and they recently confirmed that the tournament will be moved elsewhere when it takes place later this year.
With this in mind, Lorgat wants the 2011 organising committee to consider alternative venues.
"It [alternate venues] is a consideration that we have to give attention to," he said at a meeting in New Delhi to discuss preparations for the tournament.
"This is not something we discussed today, except to ask the organisers to consider alternate host city venues within the country as well as alternate country venues in the event something is not favourable in one of the particular host countries."
India cancelled their scheduled tour of Pakistan, which was due to take place in January, as relations between the two countries continued to break down in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks. However Lorgat does not feel that the current tension between the two countries is something to be alarmed about.
"This issue must be approached with an optimistic viewpoint, certainly because we still have some time in our hand. I think it's way too early to be presumptuous and assume that things won't work," he said.
"When we come close to the event, obviously we have to pay much more attention to the issues like safety, security and relation between the countries. But I can assure you at this stage we are planning a World Cup for all four countries."
Lorgat confirmed that the tournament will be shortened to six weeks in duration and said a number of groups had been created to produce "a successful, world class event."
Salim Butt has been appointed by the planning committee to take up the position of managing director for the tournament.
It was also decided that subject to final ICC Board approval, the opening ceremony for the event would take place in Bangladesh on 19 February 2011.